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Report - Final

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Honolulu was notified by
the MSD office in America Samoa that the fishing vessel Jin Shiang Fa ran aground on Rose
Island, approximately 150 miles east of America Samoa sometime after midnight on October
14.  The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by another fishing vessel in the area.  The
Jin Shiang Fa , a 137-foot, Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel, was carrying 10,000 gallons
of diesel in its internal fuel tanks, as well as an additional 100,000 gallons (2,390
barrels) of diesel in its forward cargo holds when it went aground.  A Coast Guard
overflight reported the vessel hard aground on the west side of Rose Island, south of the
narrow opening into the inner lagoon.  A sheen, two miles long by 200 yards wide, trailed
from the vessel in a northwesterly direction away from the island.  An overflight the
following day indicated that the vessel had a 30 degree list to port and an 11-mile by
200-yard wide sheen trailing to the northwest.

A charter vessel from the USCG Pacific Strike Team (PST), MSO Honolulu and the U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) arrived onscene October 16.  PST and MSO personnel were able
to determine there was no oil remaining in the forward two fish holds, but were unable to
check the remaining tanks because of heavy surf washing over the vessel causing it to move
around on the reef.  It was estimated that  40,000 gallons diesel remained in #2 fish hold
and 4,000 to 6,000 gallons in the internal fuel tanks.  The charter vessel onscene was
unable to tow the Jin Shiang Fa off the reef due to engine horsepower and towing cable
limitations.  The fishing vessel continued to spill oil from various sources producing a
1-mile by 200-yard wide sheen trailing to the northwest.  The charter vessel returned to
America Samoa on October 19.

The vessel's condition continued to be monitored through overflights until the owners
completed an approved salvage plan and salvage equipment arrived from Singapore on
November 28.  During this time the vessel continued to be beat by the surf and the list to
port increased from 30 degrees to 65 degrees.  By October 28 it was assumed that all the
oil in the forward fish holds had been released with only the oil in the internal aft fuel
tanks continuing to be released to produce a sheen.  Resource trustees recommended the
vessel still be salvaged to minimize further mechanical damage to the coral reef.

The USFWS coordinated a five-day multi-agency diving and shoreline survey November 2
through 6 to assess impact of the spill and grounded vessel on the reef.  Participants in
the survey included USFWS, NOAA, American Samoan Marine Division, and a representative of
the responsible party.  The survey determined that the oil impact zone surrounding the
vessel consisted of a 400 by 600 meter area of intertidal and subtidal reef flats.  Within
this zone, divers estimated 75 percent mortality of giant clams; extensive coralline algae
bleaching; diesel entrapment in the rubble, sand, and under rocks; and oil-soaked debris
on the bottom of the lagoon and seaward reef slope.  Physical impact to the reef included
two 40-meter scars on the outer reef front and debris, including much longline fishing
gear, on the reef from the intertidal zone down to 150 feet on the ocean reef front and
down to 50 feet in the lagoon.

The overflight on November 26 revealed the vessel had broken in two.  The forward section
with the superstructure was still on the reef flat, while the stern section had slipped
off and was submerged in deeper water.  The vessel was finally salvaged the end of
November.   The forward section and superstructure were towed off the reef and sunk in
deep water.  Divers recovered the oily debris and longline gear from the lagoon and ocean
front sides of the reef slope.