Chemical spills from containership in Long Beach

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

(SAN PEDRO, Calif.) — The unified command completed the response to the spill of propyl acetate from the commercial containership Harbour Bridge at Pier G Berth 232 in the Port of Long Beach on Sunday.

All unified command objectives, including cleanup and recovery operations on the vessel and the pier, are complete. The spill occurred when a tank containing 6,600 gallons of propyl acetate was punctured during loading operations. The chemical was mostly contained on the pier, but some residual recovered material reached the water.

The propyl acetate was transferred to storage tanks by Patriot Environmental Services. The storage tanks were segregated from other cargo and the chemical will be properly disposed at a later time. 

An injured firefighter and an injured longshoreman that went to the hospital were released.

The unified command worked to ensure the safety and security of responders, maximize the protection of public health and welfare and conduct efforts to effectively contain, clean up, recover and dispose of spilled product.

By Professional Mariner Staff