Coast Guard, local agencies respond to spill at the Port of Astoria, Ore.
Oct 2nd, 2015
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Campanale, marine science technician at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, surveys the scene of a 1,100 gallon diesel spill in the Port of Astoria, Ore., in the vicinity of Pier 1, Oct. 2, 2015. The diesel was spilled into the Columbia River when the motor vessel Global Gold allided with the pier. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg)
WARRENTON, Ore. —
A unified command composed of the U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, Washington State Department of Ecology and responsible party was established in response to the diesel fuel discharge at Pier 1 in Astoria, Friday.
An over-flight conducted by an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria at 9 a.m., confirmed that the spill was contained within the boom surrounding the vessel and pier.
Once the leak was secured, the vessel’s engineer sounded the ship’s tank and Coast Guard Incident Management investigators determined a maximum discharge of 1,100 gallons had occurred.
At 12:55 a.m., Port of Astoria personnel reported to Coast Guard Sector Columbia River that the 565-foot, Panamanian-flagged, bulk carrier Global Gold allied with Pier 1 in the Port of Astoria, causing a 4-foot by 8-inch gash in the port side of the hull approximately 30 feet from the stern.
“The quick response and notification of proper authorities by the crew of the M/V Global Gold prevented this spill from becoming a much more serious situation,” said Chief Petty Officer Brad Bennett, a pollution investigator with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. “The unified command was established to deploy a safe and timely response to mitigate environmental damage, and this is a collaborative process with the responsible party, both states and the federal government.”
Clean Rivers Cooperative was mobilized and deployed boom around the vessel and pier by 3:30 a.m. The vessel’s crew applied absorbent pads to the small affected area of land at the end of Pier 1.
The vessel was scheduled to load lumber in the Port of Astoria for the next few days, and the vessel will be detained at its current location until repairs can be made.
The cause of the allision and ensuing spill is under investigation.
Petty Officer 2nd
Class Mark Campanale, marine science technician at Coast Guard Sector
Columbia River, surveys the scene of a 1,100 gallon diesel spill in the
Port of Astoria, Ore., in the vicinity of Pier 1, Oct. 2, 2015. The
diesel was spilled into the Columbia River when the motor vessel Global
Gold allided with the pier. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd
Class Jonathan Klingenberg)
Petty Officer 2nd
Class Mark Campanale, marine science technician at Coast Guard Sector
Columbia River, surveys the damage done to the motor vessel Global Gold
after it allided with Pier 1 in the Port of Astoria, Ore., and spilled
1,100 gallons of diesel fuel, Oct. 2, 2015. The diesel spill has been
contained and the Coast Guard is working with representatives from the
vessel, local and state authorities to mitigate damage to the
environment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan
Klingenberg)
Petty Officer 2nd
Class Mark Campanale, marine science technician at Coast Guard Sector
Columbia River, surveys the scene of a 1,100 gallon diesel spill in the
Port of Astoria, Ore., in the vicinity of Pier 1, Oct. 2, 2015. The
diesel was spilled into the Columbia River when the motor vessel Global
Gold allided with the pier. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd
Class Jonathan Klingenberg)
Capt. Dan Travers,
commander Sector Columbia River and captain of the port, is briefed
about the response and shown the damage to Pier 1 in Astoria, Ore., by
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Campanale (front), Oct. 2, 2015. The pier
was damaged and 1,100 gallons of diesel was spilled into the Columbia
River when the motor vessel Global Gold allided with the pier. (U.S.
Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg)
Capt. Dan Travers,
commander Sector Columbia River and captain of the port, is briefed
about the response to a 1,100 gallon diesel spill in the vicinity of
Pier 1 in Astoria, Ore., by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Campanale and
Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Owens, Oct. 2, 2015. The diesel was spilled
into the Columbia River when the motor vessel Global Gold allided with
the pier. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan
Klingenberg)