Crews accelerate vessel salvage operations in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

News Release

Hurricane Maria ESF-10 Puerto Rico Press Contact: 939-401-6872 Vessel Hotline: 786-521-3900 USCGESF10Maria@gmail.com

Crews accelerate vessel salvage operations in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

SAN JUAN – Salvage crews from the Hurricane Maria ESF-10 Puerto Rico response began the first crane barge operations today in San Juan Harbor to lift, secure, and remove vessels stranded by Hurricane Maria.

Maria ESF-10 Puerto Rico is removing damaged vessels, which pose pollution and environmental threats, at no cost or penalty to the vessel owners. Under the direction of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the goal is to remove each vessel while mitigating public health risk, preserving native habitat, and increasing the Commonwealth’s ability to reconstitute.

Vessel owners in need of assistance are asked to call the Hurricane Maria Vessel Hotline at (786) 521-3900 to request free support from the unified command to remove a vessel, report a vessel removal plan, or report a vessel that has already been removed.

As of today, response teams have identified 357 impacted vessels, 141 of which have since been removed. Teams have made contact with 159 owners, and responded to 33 pollution reports.

The DNR and the U.S. Coast Guard in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Control Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stood up the ESF-10 command post in Puerto Rico Sept. 27, 2017, after Hurricane Maria struck the island on Sept. 19.

Editor’s note: Media interesting in covering salvage operations and conducting interviews with crews are encouraged to contact the Public Information Officer at 939-401-6872.

-USCG-

 

IMPORTANT LINKS

Official U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Maria video and imagery

FEMA Hurricane Maria resources

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