Here is why you may see fuel and oil in the water down by the Fall River waterfront and what crews are doing to contain it

Fall River, MA — Response and containment operations remain ongoing following a marine incident involving a docked tugboat that began sinking on Saturday behind 1338 Davol Street in Fall River.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Sean Flannery, the vessel, identified as the tug Guardian, began listing and partially submerging while docked south of the Brightman Street Bridge, prompting a coordinated multi-agency emergency response. During the incident, diesel fuel and oil were released into the surrounding water. Crews deployed a containment boom to limit the spread of contaminants and initiated environmental mitigation measures.

Cleanup and stabilization operations have continued around the clock since the weekend. An additional containment boom has been deployed to further contain fuel and oil, and absorbent pads are being used to capture residual product.

Two cranes are scheduled to arrive on site Thursday morning to begin salvage operations. The vessel will be lifted, remaining fluids pumped out, and the tug stabilized to prevent further environmental impact.

The incident is being managed under a unified command structure involving the Fall River Fire Department Right-to-Know Office, Fall River Police Department Harbormaster, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Coast Guard, coordinating response and environmental protection efforts. These agencies continue overseeing operational safety, environmental protection, and navigation safety in the affected area.

Due to the nature of marine fuel releases, not all oil and diesel product could be fully contained during the initial stages of the incident. Residual sheens may periodically surface some distance from the vessel. This is a known characteristic of petroleum releases in marine environments and is expected to dissipate over time. Response teams will continue monitoring conditions and addressing any significant accumulations.