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Tag: Pollution

Vengeance

Vengeance

Vengeance
Photo: uscg

On April 7, the 112 foot long tanker-barge Vengeance was found capsized and later sunk in San Francisco Bay near Oakland, California. The barge was loaded with 4000 gallons of diesel fuel and 300 gallons of hydraulic oil sank in 50 feet of water between Treasure Island and Oakland near the Bay Bridge. No one was on board the vessel when it capsized. No reports of injuries.

A slick of diesel fuel was spotted on the surface over the wreck. Authorities deployed some 3,000 feet of boom to help contain the pollution. No official report on how much fuel had been released. Both state authorities and the Coast Guard are monitoring the site.

Divers were called to perform an inspection of the sunken tanker-barge and plug the fuel vents to impede any further release of diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid.

Local reports state the vessel may have capsized due to the high winds in the bay the night before. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

Stellar Daisy

Stellar Daisy

Stellar Daisy

The 322 meter long, 266,141 dwt VLOC bulk carrier Stellar Daisy sank in the South Atlantic Ocean some 2000 miles off Montevideo, Uruguay. The Stellar Daisy had departed from Brasil bound for China on March 26 with 24 crew on board.

On March 31, one of the crew of the vessel sent out a text message to the shipping company stating the vessel was taking on water and was sinking. Afterwards, the company tried to contact the vessel, but all attempts failed.

Uruguayan Navy and Brasilian authorities were alerted when an emergency satellite signal had been received from the Stellar Daisy. A search and rescue operation was launched in the area of the signal.  Four nearby commercial vessels were asked to assist in search effort while Brasilian Air Force dispatched a fix wing aircraft from Rio de Janeiro.

On April 1, the Uruguayan Navy reported finding an oil sheen and flotsam along with a strong smell of fuel. A short time later two liferafts from the Stellar Daisy were located by one of the commercial vessels. Two of the 24 crew were found inside the lifeboats.  The search continued for the remaining missing 22 crewmen. The Stellar Daisy had six lifeboats on board, two 30-seat lifeboats and four 16-seat lifeboats.

Early reports suggest the Stellar Daisy had lost stability and quickly sank. One report suggested the bulk carrier had capsized and sank. Another report suggest a cargo shift could explain the cause of stability. Cargoes like liquefied nickel has been documented to have caused ore bulk carriers to become unbalanced and suddenly sink.

Hero

Hero

Hero
Photo: dailyastorian.com

The 125 foot long research vessel Hero sank near Willapa Bay at its berth in Bay Center, Washington.  The Coast Guard was notified that the vessel had partially sank and a light sheen of pollution was visible.

Authorities dispatched a response team to the scene and deployed booms and absorbent pads to collect and contain the pollution. No reports of injuries.

The Coast Guard has contracted a salvage company to remove the remaining oil and fuel from the vessel.  The operation shall be paid using the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.