We're a sucker for the Mission Creek houseboats. So delicate. So quaint. So... floaty. Like real houses, almost. If you want to check them out, we suggest taking a stroll in the late afternoon or early morning along Mission Creek Park. more ›

Due to the refreshingly gorgeous weather we're having -- from the windows outside SFist headquarters on busy Third Street, it seems that many of you took the day off; it's practically barren outside! -- many folks took to boating in the Bay over the weekend. One incident in particular resulted in a family's boat being capsized. You see, during a Father's Day cruise in the water on Sunday, a father and his two kids had to be "rescued 500 yards south of Ballena Bay in Alameda when their 19-foot aluminum boat capsized before 11:40 a.m." more ›

The Oakland Tribune (via Mercury News) reports on a tragic story of a 57-year-old man who drowned in the bay in Alameda on Monday after wading chest-high in the water fully clothed for nearly an hour before rescuers could reach him. more ›

According to the Chronicle, "A barge got mired today in the shallow waters near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco and is leaking some fuel into the bay." The sand transportation barge, measuring around 230-feet, "was being pushed by a tugboat when it ran aground at about 7:30 a.m." more ›

Around 120 local fishermen will split $3.65 of a $6 million award in damages won though a class action lawsuit against the parties at fault for the horrific 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill. The spill, if you recall, poured an estimated 53,000 - 58,000 gallons of fuel into the bay after colliding with one of the Bay Bridge’s towers. It also killed scores of wildlife in the process. more ›

If you're one of those types who enjoy the glacial waters along the bayside in San Francisco (e.g., surfing, kayaking, fishing, clam foraging, wind surfing, or swimming), please take the SFPUC survey at once! It will help them learn how much these places are used and in turn help them better serve you. It also has something to do with sewage overlap, so brace yourselves. more ›

Refreshing transportation news, readers! San Francisco is set to get water taxi service. The San Francisco Port Commission just approved a five-year agreement with John Scannell, who runs those duck boats for tourists via Bay Quackers, "and plans to launch the taxi service within the next two to three months." Service will depart from Pier 1½ or the Hyde Street Pier. "A one-way fare from San Francisco to Oakland will cost about $18." [Mercury News] more ›

Oh jeez. A cargo ship at the Port of Oakland hit a whale this morning. Researches aren't sure yet if the whale was already dead before the collision. ABC 7 grimly notes that "the whale carcass is still attached to that vessel." If you must, they even have footage of its lifeless body. RIP, big fella. more ›

A U.S. Coast Guard search is underway after a woman sent out a distress call on Monday night just off the coast of Tiburon. "Minutes before 10 p.m., Coast Guard Chief Donald Newton said personnel heard the potentially distressed female over a marine radio channel," reports BCN (via SF Appeal) "There was a female saying 'Listen to me, listen to me,' followed by a pause, then 'hello,' another pause, and '10-4, I have mayday.'" Two Coast Guard vessels are still out in the waters looking for the unidentified female. more ›

Earlier this afternoon, at around 1:40 p.m., a pickup truck careened into the water off of Treasure Island. According to SFAppeal, "The truck entered the water on the east side of the island shortly after 1:40 p.m." the truck's driver was rescued from the vehicle 30 minutes later. "The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening." No word yet how, exactly, the driver ended up in the Bay. UPDATE: Alas, the driver of the pickup truck died. more ›

Yesterday afternoon, a tugboat sank off Treasure Island, spilling an estimated 35 gallons or oil and diesel fuel into the Bay, creating a sheen a "400-foot debris field" sheen of oil surrounding parts of Treasure Island and the Berkeley Marina. "The Coast Guard contracted a private company to clean up the sheen," according to reports, which managed to contain the fuel before day's send. Also, allegedly, no wildlife was harmed or contaminated during the spill. So, that's good. The boat, christened and used by the U.S. Navy for 33 years before retiring in 1974, was docked pretty low in the water before sinking. more ›

Oh, sure, you've seen all the coverage of Jan Gehl's plan to turn Fisherman's Wharf into something tolerable. But wouldn't you like to know more? The excellent SPUR is holding a forum TODAY about the city's plan to alleviate pedestrian-congestion by updating the neighborhood's 1950s-style freeway-inspired urban design: widening sidewalks, installing benches, and adding bike lanes, injunction be damned. After all, be honest: when's the last time you went to Fisherman's Wharf? Probably when you had out-of-town guests. more ›

Remember when that big boat rammed into the Bay Bridge? And birds died? Fish went belly-up? And we all rightfully freaked out? And certain parties were justly charged in the accident? Well, the operator of the Cosco Busan, Fleet Management Ltd. of Hong Kong, was indicted today on on six felony counts and two misdemeanor charges of negligence, fabricating records, and almost permanently mucking up our beautiful bay. Last year's ruinous oil spill killed over 2,000 birds cost upwards of $60 million to clean up. (SFGate) more ›

A "significant amount" of spilled into the San Francisco Bay after a tugboat collided with a refinery pipeline last night at Tesoro Petroleum's Golden Eagle Refinery in Martinez. Reports claim that "it wasn't know how much gasoline spilled into the bay, but a Coast Guard spokesman says it's 'a large amount.'" more ›

(Harvard.) In an imaginary world where San Francisco neighborhoods are represented by stars’ hairstyles, the Marina is Bryan Ferry – artfully coiffed, with a subtle smattering of muss to keep the wispy-haired skeptics on their toes. Bay St. between Broderick and Baker, on the western edge of the Marina, embodies this aesthetic as well as any residential block in the district. Since nothing remotely unusual appears to happen here much – short of the odd cataclysmic earthquake and subsequent fire (see: October 1989) – it’s up to the block’s architecture, immaculately trimmed foliage, and occasional through-walker to provide a bit of Blocker-style backbone. Otherwise, we’re relegated to a piece about all the college alumni license plate frames and window decals slapped on cars parked along this street. Not such an enticing slant. more ›

Oh shit. more ›

According to the Coast Guard, "a barge has hit the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge" around 6 p.m. this evening. Yikes! The barge, reportedly carrying 63,000 barrels of heavy black oil, hit the east piling of the west span. So far there are no reports of any injuries or leakage. more ›

In a Spearsian like maneuver, looking to trump both the recent storm and the Dhaliwal brothers, oil spill made a comeback this morning. It seems that a crane fell off of a san Francisco pier a little before 10 a.m. this morning, spilling "an unknown amount" of oil into the Bay. According to the Gate, "[t]he crane was on a sliding rail system at a dry dock at Pier 70 when it suddenly tilted to one side and fell into the water." more ›

Like the bad ass she is, occasional San Francisco resident and current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has written to the "Homeland Security Department's inspector general requesting an investigation of preparation for and response to last month's oil spill in San Francisco Bay," according to CBS 5. In a wordy missive to Inspector General Skinner, she fired off over a dozen issues she wants taken care of right-quick. A couple of points she needs to... more ›

What started out yesterday morning as a PG-13, innocent little fender bender has now turned into our very own R-rated environmental disaster. Smashing. Here's a summary of today's oil spill-related chaos, followed by volunteering and clean-up information. -- Today Gavin Newsom sent down word from wherever he's recovering from his hangover -- we kid. sort of -- that SF will get litigious on the agency or persons responsible for the 58,000 gallons of oil... more ›