Mon 20 Apr 2009, 08:08 GMT

Bunker fuel removed as vessel hits bridge


1300 gallons of diesel fuel removed from grounded vessel in California.



The California Department of Transportation, Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game and other partner agencies have been working to coordinate a safe and environmentally sound strategy to remove the grounded fishing vessel along the San Mateo Bridge [pictured], San Francisco Bay.

Last week the fishing vessel Big Timber lost propulsion and ran aground after hitting the San Mateo Bridge during a storm that brought high winds and heavy seas to the bay. Two crew members aboard were rescued by the Coast Guard Cutter Tern and the other climbed on the bridge, after the vessel struck it.

The Coast Guard contracted the National Response Corporation to remove 1300 gallons of diesel fuel, which was successfully recovered on Wednesday.

As weather and sea conditions improved on Friday, contractors were able to deploy a network of hard boom at collection points just north and south of the vessel. The containment and recovery strategy has reportedly been effective in removing any sheen created by oiled debris emanating from the vessel.

"Multi-agency assessment teams conducted shoreline surveys throughout sensitive environmental sites north and south of the vessel and have reported no oil spill impacts," the US Coast Guard said in a statement.


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