DEVELOPING STORY: Our dedicated volunteers responded at first light Friday morning to report the presence of seals after receiving an emergency blast just before 11pm Thursday night that there was a potential for a hazardous oil spill in the Barber’s Point area. A 95 foot towing vessel sank approximately 2 ½ miles off of Barbers Point Harbor late Thursday afternoon. 11 people were safely rescued from the sinking vessel. The vessel was carrying an estimated 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel sank. On Friday morning the USCG conducted an aerial survey of the area but reported no sheen on the water. However, the smell of petroleum was reported at White Plains Beach and another vessel reported a sheen 4 miles offshore. As the full extent of the threat is unknown, NMFS is taking action to temporarily move endangered Hawaiian monk seals away from the area and into temporary captive care at the NOAA IRC at Ford Island. Four seals (RB24, RO28, RR70, and RE74) that were reported hauled-out on shore in the area will be considered for this action. NMFS is doing this as a precautionary measure to protect the seals until the potential threat is better known and/or resolved. PIFSC staff also launched a PIFSC vessel to conduct a cetacean and sea turtle survey at the most recent location of the reported sheen. We are very grateful for the quick and diligent response of the volunteers and for the collaborative efforts of all the agencies involved!
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 04:47:42 +0000
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