By Khalida Sarwari
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating what caused an 85-foot sea scout training vessel that was carrying 33 people, including 27 children, to take on water in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Tuesday afternoon.
The Coast Guard received a report around noon that the “Farrallones” vessel had taken on about 8 inches of water in the bilge in the vicinity of Suisun Bay near Concord.
A rescue helicopter and 25-foot rescue boats were deployed, and all the passengers were removed from the sinking vessel by about 1 p.m. and transferred them to the ferry Intintoli. Members of the crew stayed behind to control the flooding inside the vessel. No injuries were reported.
Petty Officer Ryan Roberts said the vessel started taking on water after striking something. The vessel is undergoing repairs at the Alameda Bay Shipping Lot.
The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department and the Good Samaritan passenger ferry Intintoli assisted in the rescue effort.