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The US Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology are continuing to oversee oil spill cleanup operations at Tesoro Port Angeles Terminal in Port Angeles.

According to reports, the spill occurred early Wednesday morning (Nov. 7), when a Harley Marine Services fuel barge was overfilled during fuelling operations at the fuelling terminal in Port Angeles Harbour.

Approximately 50 to 100 gallons of heavy fuel oil that reached the water was successfully captured inside containment boom that had been placed around the barge before the fuel transfer began. An unknown amount of spilled fuel is said to have remained on the deck of the Harley Marine barge.

The Washington Department of Ecology requires pre-booming for large-volume oil transfers over water to provide a first line of defense should a spill occur.

By day’s end Wednesday, cleanup contractors Global Diving & Salvage and Marine Spill Response Corp. had cleaned up nearly all of the spilled oil from the water using absorbent materials.

Yesterday, crews were cleaning the heavy oil from the side of the barge, Tesoro’s fuel dock and the pilings underneath. The containment boom will remain in place during the operations.

No oiled mammals, birds, fish or other wildlife are said to have been observed. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.