Olympic Tug & Barge (wholly owned by Harley Marine Services) IFO Spill - Port Angeles

Thursday, November 8, 2012, 12:15pm

Most oil removed from water, focus now on cleaning up fuel barge, dock and pilings

Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard continue to oversee oil spill cleanup operations today at Tesoro Port Angeles Terminal in Port Angeles.

The spill occurred early Wednesday morning (Nov. 7) when an Olympic Tug & Barge fuel barge was overfilled during fueling operations at the fueling terminal in Port Angeles Harbor. Olympic Tug & Barge is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley Marine Services.

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 stayed on the deck of the Harley Marine barge.

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.

Today, crews are 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 have been observed. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 2:30pm

Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Spill Response Corp and Global Diving & Salvage continue to clean up a heavy fuel oil spill in Port Angeles that occurred early this morning.
 
The spill occurred after an Olympic Tug & Barge fuel barge was overfilled during fueling operations at the Tesoro Port Angeles Terminal in Port Angeles Harbor. Olympic Tug & Barge is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley Marine Services.
 
When the incident was reported to state and federal authorities shortly after 3 a.m. today, the reported amount spilled was 840 gallons. Ecology and Coast Guard responders have now determined between 50 and 100 gallons reached Port Angeles Harbor. Most of the fuel stayed on the deck of the Harley Marine barge.
 
An over flight of the site conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard this morning showed that spilled oil on the water has remained inside the oil containment boom that was placed around the barge before fuel transfer operations.
 
Currently MSRC and Global have deployed three skimming vessels, two response vessels and several workboats to deploy more oil containment boom and absorbent materials to remove the oil from the water. Vacuum trucks and other equipment are expected to arrive soon to help these recovery efforts.
 
Contractors and oil recovery efforts are being paid for by Harley Marine. They are being directed under a unified command involving the Coast Guard and Ecology.
 
Under state law, Ecology requires pre-booming for large-volume oil transfers over water to provide a first line of defense should a spill occur. Before the Washington Legislature directed Ecology to change its oil transfer rules, spills during oil transfers were a significant source of pollution.
 
The cause of the spill is under investigation.
 
All oil spills cause environmental damage, regardless of size. Oil is toxic to the environment and the damage starts as soon as the oil hits water. A single quart of oil has the potential to foul more than 100,000 gallons of water.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 9:30am

Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Spill Response Corp., and Global Diving & Salvage are responding to an estimated 840-gallon heavy fuel oil spill at Port Angles and between 50 and 100 gallons reached the water.

The spill was reported at 3:20 a.m. It occurred after a fuel barge owned by Olympic Tug & Barge was overfilled during fueling operations at the Tesoro Port Angeles Terminal in Port Angeles Harbor. Olympic Tug & Barge is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley Marine Services.

Oil spill containment boom (pre-booming) had been deployed for the fueling operation, which is helping contain the heavy oil on the water.

Under state law, Ecology requires pre-booming for large-volume oil transfers over water to provide a first line of defense should a spill occur. Before the Washington Legislature directed Ecology to change its oil transfer rules, spills during oil transfers were a significant source of pollution.

Ecology and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are conducting an over flight to determine if oil escaped from inside the pre-boomed area.

Photos taken by Ecology spill responder, Andrea Unger.

Photos taken by Ecology vessel inspector, Mike Cahill.

Photos taken by Ecology natural resource damage assessment lead, Rebecca Post.