Date:
Nov. 18, 2008 

Contact:
Lt. Cmdr. Eric King
(843) 724-7616

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coast Guard continues to oversee the removal of the grounded fishing vessel Nanami on Kiawah Island, S.C., Tuesday afternoon. 

Charleston Marine Services, which has been contracted to remove the vessel and any potential pollutants on board, has successfully removed approximately 900 gallons of fuel. Approximately 250 gallons of fuel and oils remain aboard the vessel.

A vessel removal plan has been submitted to the Coast Guard and has been approved by the Captain of the Port. Contractors will attempt to remove the vessel from the beach as soon as all preparations have been made.

The 77-foot scallop boat from Pennsauken, N.J., ran aground Friday morning after its anchor chain broke Thursday evening. Containment boom has been placed around the vessel to prevent impact to the environment. No impacted wildlife has been reported. 

The two crew members aboard the Nanami, Greg Cooper, 52, of Cape May, N.J., and Nora Kim, 47, of Pennsauken, were not injured at the time of the grounding.

This is the second time the Coast Guard has responded to the Nanami. During the Nanami's transit from New Jersey, it required Coast Guard assistance when it became disabled off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.  The boat was towed to Southport, N.C., by the Coast Guard Cutters Vigorous and Block Island.