The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(ALPENA, Mich.) — Oil spill response organization T&T Bisso, along with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, sealed the source of oil discharge from the sunken 470-foot freighter Nordmeer, August 6, 2010.
Nordmeer ran aground and sunk in the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary in 1966.
Coast Guard Station Alpena discovered a sheen coming from the wreck during a routine patrol July 24, 2010.
Coast Guard Station Alpena discovered a sheen coming from the wreck during a routine patrol July 24, 2010.
After years of deterioration and severe damage from winter storms, Nordmeer had begun to collapse upon itself, and some of the residual oil had discharged from the vessel.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) divers were able to locate a damaged flange which was leaking a peanut-sized drop of oil every five seconds.
Sector Detroit hired T&T Bisso and coordinated with the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to stop the leak and mitigate any further pollution.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund August 3, 2010, to stop the leak and clean up the escaped oil.
No further leaks are expected, but Sector Detroit will continue to monitor the situation.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Lt. Cmdr. James Marquez at 313-568-9479.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Lt. Cmdr. James Marquez at 313-568-9479.
