FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Salvage crews spent Monday working to raise a small tugboat or barge that sank Friday night in rough weather off the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The vessel went down near Mullet Point Park along County Road 1, with only its pilothouse left visible above the waterline. The Coast Guard said the boat measures 20 feet by 12 feet and is owned and operated by S and J Construction. A marine radio warning has been issued advising boaters to avoid the area while salvage work continues.
Witnesses said two crew members were rescued and brought safely to the boat launch at Mullet Point Park on Friday night. No injuries were reported. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol responded to the scene, according to the Coast Guard.
“Blue lights started coming from across the bay right in front of us and turns out, the volunteer fire department showed up at the park so it was all lit up,” said Blackie LeBlanc, who lives on the bay and was among those waiting at the boat launch when the crew was brought ashore.
“They got them off it fine. There wasn’t any injuries or nothing but they were a little shook up,” LeBlanc said. “Evidently the engine had overheated, and they shut it off and when they went to start it back up, the batteries were dead and they started taking on water.”
LeBlanc said a storm moving through the area at the time contributed to the sinking. “They were just in a bad place at a bad time,” he said.
LeBlanc said he watched the scene unfold through a spotting scope from his pier over the weekend. Conditions had calmed by Monday, allowing salvage workers to attempt to float the vessel, which remained visible above the water as of Monday afternoon.
The Coast Guard has not said when the salvage operation is expected to be completed or whether any fuel or environmental concerns are associated with the sunken vessel. Boaters in the area are urged to heed the marine radio warning and give the site a wide berth until the wreck is cleared.