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Morro Bay Harbor LogsFor the Month of November, 2009During the month of November, 2009, in addition to their normal course of duties the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol responded to 106 calls for service, including 12 true emergencies. Patrol personnel engaged in 11 enforcement actions and 41 maintenance actions. Highlights include: Monday, November 2·Transported a crew of Morro Bay Beautiful volunteers to the sandspit for a day of trash and debris collection. Tuesday, November 3·Responded to a report of an unleashed dog on the beach north of the Rock. The animal was located and approached, but was less than friendly, so the dog catcher was called to assist. It's owner, out surfing, quietly exited the water, called for his dog then jumped into his car and sped off. ·Urgent response to the 70-foot fishing vessel Sheelagh B, caught broadside at the north T-Pier and threatening other vessels. She was towed free before any damage was done. Wednesday, November 4·Emergency response to a near-dusk report of a kayak stuck in the mud in the back bay with two people aboard. The craft was located and an officer in a wetsuit made his way approximately 800 yards to the craft via a paddle board then slogging through the mud. Aside from being stuck, they were OK and wished to just wait out the tide to get out. Harbor Patrol and Coast Guard vessels alternatively stood-by until the tide filled, and the hapless duo were transported back to solid land. Thursday, November 5·Responded to a call from a small recreational vessel with a dead engine off of the south end of Cayucos. It was towed back to the launch ramp without incident. Friday, November 6·Emergency response to a report of a capsized day sailor in the anchorage area with two kids in the water. Harbor Patrol responded and plucked two cold but OK life jacketed kids out of the drink. They were transported back to their parents on their transient sailing vessel at Tidelands Dock. Saturday, November 7·Advised numerous small boaters and kayakers throughout the course of the day about the high surf and hazardous harbor entrance conditions. In addition, several looky-loos had to be warned to stay well clear of the water at the north jetty, lest they be dragged to their doom by a large wave. Remember: previously dry areas can be swept without notice by large waves – never turn your back on the ocean. Sunday, November 8·After-hours call out to assist in assessing an approximate 5-gallon hydraulic oil spill in the bay. It occurred when the excavator dredge working in the bay had a failure of their dredge bucket, which resulted in hydraulic lines being severed and the fluid spilling into the bay. The flow was quickly stopped, and it was decided to wait until daylight to commence any cleanup operations. Monday, November 9·Assisted the dredge company personnel and Fish and Game personnel assess and clean up last night's hydraulic fluid spill. Fluid that could be soaked up into absorbent pads was. Fortunately, the fluid was an organic biodegradable-based one. Friday, November 13·Advised several small boaters outbound of the bay of the forecast for gale force winds and high seas. Most opted to say in the harbor. Saturday, November 14·Towed the sailing vessel Tate from where she was aground near Tidelands Dock. ·Urgent response to a small boat with engine troubles in the harbor entrance and towed them to the launch ramp. Then assisted a pair of rental kayakers from Tidelands Dock to the State Park Marina. Sunday, November 15·Assisted a trailer boater who had run their trailer too far down the launch ramp and got their tires off the concrete and into the mud. A Harbor Patrol officer suited up and assisted from underwater to get the trailer unstuck. ·Towed a broken down Sea Ray from near channel marker #12 to the launch ramp. Later, another broken down trailer boat was towed inside the bay to the launch ramp. Wednesday, November 18 ·Built and installed some sea lion barriers at one of the city slip fingers to try and stave-off the recent inundation of the docks by hundreds of the animals. Thursday, November 19·Responded to several reports of a small inflatable vessel stuck in the back bay mud from a quickly receding tide. The vessel, a tender to the Papagallo, was located and a line walked through the mud by a Harbor Patrol officer and secured to the vessel. It was then towed a hundred yards or so across the slicks and back to navigable water. Monday, November 23·Emergency response to a phone-in report of a woman having been knocked down by a large wave at the north jetty, reportedly not in the water but possible in need of medical attention. Upon arriving on scene, Harbor Patrol officers located the apparent victim, who was laughing it off and had not been injured at all. She and her companions were advised that they were quite lucky as it could have ended much worse. Tuesday, November 24·Assisted family members of persons on the reported overdue vessel Scarlet Begonia from Santa Barbara to Morro Bay attempt to contact that vessel. Tragically, it turned up a short time later on the beach at Vandenberg Air Force Base with two deaths. Wednesday, November 25·After-hours emergency response to assist the Coast Guard with a sinking 50-foot steel motor sailor taking on water outside the harbor. The vessel had been reported a short time earlier to be in the surf in Cayucos, and the Coast Guard responded to assist. The boater apparently made his way back out of the surf and was escorted by the Coast Guard to the harbor. However, unbeknownst to the sole operator and against the request of the Coast Guard to check below for trouble, the vessel was quickly taking on water. The engine was overcome with water and quit, and despite attempts with pumps put aboard to get the water out, it was coming in faster and the ship had to be abandoned. It sank approximately 150 feet of water southwest of the harbor entrance. Thursday, November 26·Extremely busy day with beautiful weather, a holiday, and very large surf. Numerous vessels were warned and advised to steer well clear of the harbor entrance; beachgoers and novice surfers were advised of treacherous and rising swell conditions, and numerous looky-loos were advised to stay far back from the breaking waves at the north jetty. Fortunately, there were no incidents. Friday, November 27·Emergency response to a 40-foot sailing vessel with transmission troubles stuck in the mud at the State Park Marina channel. She was towed back to her slip. ·Emergency response to the sailing vessel Debrah M dragging anchor in the anchorage area. She was assisted in resetting her anchor. ·Emergency response to a report of a capsized day sailor off the A-2 mooring area. Arriving on scene, the Harbor Patrol found the vessel being assisted by a fellow boater. Monday, November 30·Cited a repeat offender off-leash dog owner for having his dog off leash once again. ·Emergency response to a report of a small day sailor being sucked out of the harbor entrance in light winds and large swells. The hapless boaters were plucked by the Harbor Patrol from the clutches of a large set of waves south of the south jetty just in time and towed back into the harbor. |
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