Two more vessels have sunk in the Hoquiam River near Al’s Hum-Dinger restaurant north of the Riverside Bridge, depositing a noticeable and foul-smelling sheen on the river’s surface.

The Department of Ecology’s spill response team was on the scene shortly after the spill was reported at about 1 p.m., according to spokeswoman Sandy Howard.

“One of our first concerns is to the contain and control the release,” she said. “If we can’t find the responsible party we will get a contractor and figure out how to remove” the fluid coming from the boats, likely diesel fuel, but tests on water samples will identify what crews are dealing with, said Howard.

This section of the river has now had four vessels sink in recent months. The mast of one is still visible from the river bank. Wednesday’s sinking involved two vessels, according to Howard, which were reportedly tied together. “When one went it took the other one with it,” she said.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group The Department of Ecology spill team is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to two sunken boats on the Hoquiam River leaking foul-smelling liquid into the river. Witnesses reported a noticeable sheen on the river’s surface coming from sunken vessels, located near Al’s Hum-Dinger, where two other boats have recently sunk.

Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group A noticeable sheen was emanating from sunken vessels on the Hoquiam River Wednesday afternoon. Department of Ecology spill response crews were on hand soon after the foul-smelling sheen was detected around 1 p.m.