Tugboat sinks in the Columbia River. Officials watch for fuel leak

Strong winds blew a 38-foot tugboat up the Columbia River until it sank near Umatilla, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported.

No crew was on board.

The HME Construction tugboat was found completely submerged and lying on its side about 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Officials believe that Sunday’s windstorm blew it away from its mooring and then pushed it about three-quarters of a mile upstream, said Laura Gleim, spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Quality.

Washington and Oregon environmental and wildlife agencies are concerned about the 750 gallons of diesel fuel the tugboat is believed to have on board.

Divers were initially unable to go into the water Monday morning because of 4- to 8-foot swells, Gleim said.

But dive teams reached the tug Monday afternoon and reported that the fuel hatch remained closed and sealed. They plugged fuel vents while they were checking the tugboat.

The Washington state Department of Ecology and Department of Fish and Wildlife planned to fly a helicopter over the river to check for signs of a fuel spill Monday afternoon.

Work began Monday to place a boom in the water around the boat to contain any fuel that might leak.

A crane and barge is expected to arrive Wednesday to lift the tugboat out of the water.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 3:37 PM.