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News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom

Unified Command continues oil spill response on Arthur Kill waterway

 

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

NEW YORK – Unified Command members continue their response to an oil spill that occurred on the Arthur Kill waterway Thursday afternoon when a hole was detected in the hull of the Hapag-Lloyd container ship “Dublin Express” during unloading operations in the Global Marine New York Container Terminal. Fuel escaped from the approximately 15 square inch opening. The hole was sealed during the evening which stopped any further discharge.  In addition, containment booms were promptly set out to prevent any additional spreading of the oil and to proactively protect nearby nature reserves. 

 Hapag-Lloyd, the vessel owner, is pleased to be working closely in the Unified Command with the relevant authorities and interested parties to minimize the impact on people and the environment. The Unified Command consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey Department Environmental Protection (NJ DEP), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), and Gallagher Marine Systems.

After initially closing the waterway to navigable vessel traffic, the Captain of the Port re-opened the waterway just before 1 p.m. today, with a slow bell requiring maritime traffic moving through the waterway with no wake.

Crews are on scene assessing conditions and continue pollution response and cleanup measures in order to ensure environmental safety and facilitate maritime commerce.

 The Unified Command is advising the public to stay clear of cleanup operations in the waterway. 

Air assets from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and the New York Police Department Aviation unit both completed overflights earlier today to assess the situation from the air.

 Commercial oil spill recovery organizations are also on scene as part of the response effort.

 At present, the Unified Command has deployed 60 responders, 10 vessels, four skimmers, two vacuum trucks, two vacuum trailers for recovered oil product, and 15,000 feet of containment boom in response to the incident.

To view the initial press release, click the following link:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/23a535b

 

-USCG-