On Friday morning, a commercial fishing vessel carrying thousands of gallons of fuel capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor. Multiple agencies responded with rescue and pollution control operations.

The incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. when the Eileen Rita, an 86-foot fishing boat based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, ran aground in shallow waters near Green Island.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, they received a radio call from the vessel, and further communication confirmed that it had run aground and was in distress.

There were three crew members on board at the time. After the vessel struck ground and began listing, they donned survival suits to ensure their safety.

Rescue teams from Boston and Hull, as well as the Coast Guard, Boston Police, and Fire Departments, were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Two Coast Guard boats and a Boston Police boat quickly arrived on site and safely rescued all three crew members. They were brought ashore, and no injuries were reported.

Shortly after the rescue operation, the vessel began listing more severely to port.

Officials observed fuel discharges in the surrounding waters. The Coast Guard reported that the vessel was carrying up to 4,000 gallons of diesel and 50 gallons of lubricating oil.

The exact amount of the leak is currently unknown, but a visible sheen was observed on the surface of the water near the site.

Photos shared by the Coast Guard show the Eileen Rita partially submerged and leaning to one side, with fuel visibly trailing in the water near the rocky island of Green Island within the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

As of Friday, pollution control efforts were underway to minimize environmental damage.

The Coast Guard confirmed that it is working in close coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and other state agencies. A public affairs officer from the Boston Coast Guard stated that a cleanup company had been contracted to address the spill. Absorbent boom is being deployed to contain the fuel, and divers have been sent to assess the condition of the vessel and determine how to safely remove it from the island.

The Coast Guard also advised mariners in the area to monitor VHF Channel 22A for updates on safety and navigation as operations continue around the grounded vessel.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the grounding.

EILEEN RITA (MMSI 368114720) is a fishing vessel currently sailing under the U.S. flag.