1,000 Gallons Of Oil Spilled During Fuel Transfer In Puerto Rico’s San Juan Harbour

A massive oil spill in San Juan Harbour, Puerto Rico, has grabbed the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard after about 1,000 gallons of fuel was leaked during a transfer at the Puma Energy fuel dock.

The spill happened on the evening of November 27, when the fuel was being pumped from the tanker Dubai Green to the dock.

Crew members spotted an oily sheen spreading on the water, about 100 meters long and 4 meters wide, and immediately shut down the operation. The Coast Guard received the report around 7:30 p.m. and quickly dispatched teams to the spill site.

The leak was stopped after swift action by the Coast Guard, and most of the fuel was contained within the dock area. Cleanup crews hired by Puma Energy have placed around 1,000 feet of floating barriers, known as booms, to prevent the oil from spreading further.

They are now working to remove the fuel from the water and check for any pockets of oil that may have escaped.

Video Credits: Paul Benecki/YouTube

The Coast Guard is closely overseeing the cleanup, coordinating with agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Officials are also looking for any signs of wildlife being affected.

Jamie Testa, the Coast Guard’s Federal On-Scene Coordinator, discussed the importance of being prepared for such incidents. He added that they are making sure all the resources are in place to clean and protect the environment as much as possible.

Such incidents also remind us how important it is for fuel facilities and ships to have a strong response plan and practice them regularly.

The Coast Guard has cautioned local fishermen and the public to stay away from the spill area and avoid touching any fuel. Fishing or other activities in the area are also off-limits until the cleanup is completed.

The clean-up operation is expected to take several days, with teams working hard to ensure San Juan Harbour is safe again.

San Juan Bay is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in length and is home to the island’s busiest harbour. It is the bay and main inlet adjacent to Old San Juan in Puerto Rico.

Reference: USCG

Source: Maritime Shipping News