Nothing left above water than the masthead.
The Mermaid, a wooden vessel thought to have been built in the 1930s, begins to sink in the Arlington Marina.
As the boat takes on more water, it begins to lean, causing concern that it will also destroy the marina's boardwalk.
A beloved boat thought to have been built in 1938, sank quickly in Arlington on August 14.
"The Mermaid" had been docked in the Port of Arlington's Marina for about eight years. Its owner, who lives in Goldendale, is thought to have taken it out the day before.
Local residents first noticed that the wooden boat was taking on water early on August 14th. Within hours, the ship had noticeably dipped below the water's surface. The boat hung onto the side of the marina's boardwalk, worrying folks at the Port of Arlington that it might also be taken down.
It did not, but the large boat fully submerged, leaving only its sail mast above water.
The boat is thought to have had about 900 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, prompting the federal government's response. For oil spills this large, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality calls on the federal government to handle the contaminated site.
By the next day, oil booms had been established throughout the marina, and crews had been working to contain the spill. Oil also seeped into boulders and rocks near the marina.
Crews are expected to bring a barge with a large crane to lift The Mermaid out of the water sometime this week. The Mermaid will be placed on the barge to avoid additional diesel contamination as they take it down the Columbia River.
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