The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(ALAMEDA, Calif.) — Cleanup operations continue in the San Francisco Bay this afternoon, after an undetermined amount of fuel oil spilled into the water while the tanker vessel Dubai Star was refueling.
The ship has secured the source of the spill and no more fuel is leaking into the bay. The cause of the spill is under investigation, but initial assessment is that a mechanical failure occurred. Both the barge providing fuel to the vessel and the tugboat have been released from the scene.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the vessel owner, South Harmony Shipping, have established a unified command and are jointly managing cleanup operations. Local government agencies are also engaged in the operations.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the vessel owner, South Harmony Shipping, have established a unified command and are jointly managing cleanup operations. Local government agencies are also engaged in the operations.
The cleanup contractors MSRC and NRC deployed cleanup crews shortly after the vessel crew reported the spill at 6:48 a.m. this morning. Numerous resources are engaged in the cleanup operations, including skimmers, patrol boats, helicopters, and several utility boats. Approximately 11,000 feet of boom has been deployed and protection measures have been established at pre-identified environmentally sensitive sites.
DFG activated the Oiled Wildlife Care Network to conduct wildlife search and reconnaissance operations. So far, there have been no reports of oiled wildlife. The public is asked to not attempt to rescue oiled wildlife as this may cause injury to both the individual and the animal. Instead the public should report sightings of oiled wildlife to 1-877-823-6926.
Oil trajectory models predict potential shoreline impacts tonight starting this evening at North Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, Yerba Buena Island, and Treasure Island.
