Oil spill at Saipan seaport
An estimated 100 gallons of oil leaked from a vessel berthed at the Port of Saipan yesterday morning but officials say there is no imminent threat to sea life.
Divers have determined that a hole near the rudder of cargo vessel Fuji Marine was the origin of the leak and have closed it.
Emergency responders immediately deployed an oil boom shell around the cargo vessel to contain the leaking oil. As of 4pm yesterday, a statement from the Governor's Office said that emergency responders were making quick work of the spill.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority first alerted the CNMI Emergency Operations Office to an oil spill of unknown source at Baker Dock at 8:45 yesterday morning. After inspecting several vessels in the vicinity, EMO established that the vessel Fuji Marine was the source of the leak.
Based on preliminary estimates, approximately 100 gallons of oil leaked from the vessel. Shell Marianas was contracted to disperse absorbent pads within the boom shell to absorb the contaminated water.
“Fortunately, we were able to quickly meet our immediate operational goals of identifying and containing the source of the leak,” said Incident Commander Greg Deleon Guerrero. “Our second operational goal of shoreline assessment continues.”
The Division of Fish and Wildlife and Coastal Resources Management had detected an oil sheen from Baker Dock north to the Tanapag Seaplane Ramp. Officials say there is no eminent threat to sea life, although they continue to monitor the situation.
Two shoreline assessments were made yesterday and a third is scheduled for 9:00 this morning. Ship owner A & T Shipping Services has contracted South Pacific Environment to handle the remaining cleanup associated with the spill.
“The oil sheen was first reported by Captain Pat Ulechong as he was operating another vessel in the lagoon, and I believe that quick response and competence from all parties have made the difference in this operation,” said Deleon Guerrero. “We commend all the involved parties for their response to this hazard.”
Response to the incident is being executed under a Unified Command System lead by EMO, the United States Coast Guard, and A&T Shipping Services. In addition to DFW and CRM, other responding agencies include the Division of Environmental Quality, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., and the Office of the Governor Public Information Office.
Divers have determined that a hole near the rudder of cargo vessel Fuji Marine was the origin of the leak and have closed it.
Emergency responders immediately deployed an oil boom shell around the cargo vessel to contain the leaking oil. As of 4pm yesterday, a statement from the Governor's Office said that emergency responders were making quick work of the spill.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority first alerted the CNMI Emergency Operations Office to an oil spill of unknown source at Baker Dock at 8:45 yesterday morning. After inspecting several vessels in the vicinity, EMO established that the vessel Fuji Marine was the source of the leak.
Based on preliminary estimates, approximately 100 gallons of oil leaked from the vessel. Shell Marianas was contracted to disperse absorbent pads within the boom shell to absorb the contaminated water.
“Fortunately, we were able to quickly meet our immediate operational goals of identifying and containing the source of the leak,” said Incident Commander Greg Deleon Guerrero. “Our second operational goal of shoreline assessment continues.”
The Division of Fish and Wildlife and Coastal Resources Management had detected an oil sheen from Baker Dock north to the Tanapag Seaplane Ramp. Officials say there is no eminent threat to sea life, although they continue to monitor the situation.
Two shoreline assessments were made yesterday and a third is scheduled for 9:00 this morning. Ship owner A & T Shipping Services has contracted South Pacific Environment to handle the remaining cleanup associated with the spill.
“The oil sheen was first reported by Captain Pat Ulechong as he was operating another vessel in the lagoon, and I believe that quick response and competence from all parties have made the difference in this operation,” said Deleon Guerrero. “We commend all the involved parties for their response to this hazard.”
Response to the incident is being executed under a Unified Command System lead by EMO, the United States Coast Guard, and A&T Shipping Services. In addition to DFW and CRM, other responding agencies include the Division of Environmental Quality, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., and the Office of the Governor Public Information Office.