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Mon 13 Apr 2009, 12:45 GMT

Bunker spill in Hawaii


US Coast Guard responds to 250-gallon marine diesel spill.

The U.S. Coast Guard has responded to a 250-gallon marine diesel spill in Hilo Harbor, Hawaii, which took place on Thursday 9th April.

Pollution investigators were on the scene on Friday 10th April after it was notified of a stationary sheen stretching from piers one and two in the harbor to more than 200 yards off shore.

Coast Guard investigators from Marine Safety Detachment, Hawaii, on the Big Island, immediately responded to the scene of the incident. Investigators estimated that approximately 250 gallons of red-dye marine diesel from an unknown source caused the sheen.

Using money from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (under authorization of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990), the Coast Guard hired Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) to conduct the cleanup. PENCO has been on scene with small boats and personnel on shore.

Recovery operations commenced on April 10th immediately after a safety briefing at first light. Divers in the water then reportedly collected what was left of the oil. Coast Guard investigators collected samples and sent them to the National Marine Safety Laboratory for analysis.

"The thin fuel, a type of marine diesel, appears red on the surface of the water. Generally, marine diesel fuels dissipate, evaporate or burn away quickly," the US Coast Guard said in a statement.

An HH-65 dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point was launched at 1:30 p.m.Thursday, to document and evaluate the situation. On Thursday and Friday, most of the oil had been collected with absorbent pads.

The Coast Guard said it was working closely with state and county officials and with the Honolulu-based Clean Islands Council.

On Thursday, Coast Guard -- and contracted responders -- immediately deployed a protective boom to prevent the spread of oil and other pollutants.

"The Coast Guard and its partners recognize the value of being prepared in oil spill events," said Chief Petty Officer Dustin Widman, a pollution investigator and incident management specialist stationed at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.

"Fortunately, the Coast Guard trains frequently with state and county oil spill response partners and as a direct result from that preparation, we were able to respond quickly to this situation."

The source of the oil is currently under investigation.

"We are working to determine the extent and the source of the pollution," said Widman

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