JANUARY 6, 2017--On December 21, 2016, the vessel F/V Western was removed from Coos Bay, Oregon, where it sank near the Empire Dock in January 2015.

The Oregon State Marine Board managed the project in collaboration with the Oregon Department of State Land and with the support of a NOAA Marine Debris Program Community-based Marine Debris Removal Grant. Billeter Marine, a local salvage contractor, conducted the removal, brought the wreck to land, and disposed of it.

This was the end of the journey for the wood-hulled vessel that was built in 1934 and spent her early life salmon fishing in Alaska. Unfortunately, over the years the condition of the vessel deteriorated, and although the Western sank twice before and had been refloated, its condition and location when it sank for the third time required removal to prevent both additional environmental harm and risks to boats in the area.

For more information, contact Nir.Barnea@noaa.gov.

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