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USCG Press Release 30Oct 1615hrs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United States Coast Guard 	Eleventh Coast Guard District 

NEWS RELEASE 	

DATE: October 30, 2009

CONTACT: Coast Guard Public Affairs (415) 748-0112

Department of Fish and Game (916) 539-6124


Leak Secured, Cleanup Operations Continue in Dubai Star Oil Spill

Alameda, Calif. – Cleanup operations continue in the San Francisco Bay this
afternoon, after an undetermined amount of fuel oil spilled into the water while
the tanker vessel Dubai Star was refueling.

The ship has secured the source of the spill and no more fuel is leaking into
the bay. The cause of the spill is under investigation, but initial assessment
is that a mechanical failure occurred. Both the barge providing fuel to the
vessel and the tugboat have been released from the scene.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Office of Spill
Prevention and Response and the vessel owner, South Harmony Shipping, have
established a unified command and are jointly managing cleanup operations. Local
government agencies are also engaged in the operations.

The cleanup contractors MSRC and NRC deployed cleanup crews shortly after the
vessel crew reported the spill at 6:48 a.m. this morning. Numerous resources are
engaged in the cleanup operations, including skimmers, patrol boats,
helicopters, and several utility boats.  Approximately 11,000 feet of boom has
been deployed and protection measures have been established at pre-identified
environmentally sensitive sites.

DFG activated the Oiled Wildlife Care Network to conduct wildlife search and
reconnaissance operations. So far, there have been no reports of oiled wildlife.
The public is asked to not attempt to rescue oiled wildlife as this may cause
injury to both the individual and the animal. Instead the public should report
sightings of oiled wildlife to 1-877-823-6926.

Oil trajectory models predict potential shoreline impacts tonight starting this
evening at North Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, Yerba Buena Island, and
Treasure Island.


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