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USCG Press Release #2 - 1/24/10

UPDATE #2: Unified command responds to oil spill in Port Arthur

PORT ARTHUR, Texas - Responders from the Unified Command established to clean up
the oil spill here recovered an estimated 46,200 gallons of spilled oil as of
Sunday afternoon.

Fifteen skimming vessels continue to comb the waterway and recover more oil, and
there are about 500 responders working both in the field and at the command
post. They have deployed 45,800 feet of boom to contain the estimated 462,000
gallons of crude that spilled after a collision between a towing vessel and an
807-foot tank ship on Saturday.

The safety zone established in the Sabine-Neches Waterway now extends from the
North Forty at the northern tip of Pleasure Island to Texas Point by the Sabine
River jetties. No vessel may enter the safety zone without the permission of the
Captain of the Port or his designee. This restricts all recreational and
commercial vessels from transiting the area.

West-to-northwest winds and strong ebb currents are expected to move oil south
of Mesquite Point over the next 24-36 hours.

Therefore, the Captain of the Port recommends that vessels south of Mesquite
Point and not yet impacted by the oil take all prudent precautions to minimize
and mitigate potential impacts should the oil move further south as expected.
Precautions may include sailing vessels moored to an alternate port or booming
vessel and facilities structures. Facilities should make alternate berthing
arrangements for vessels bound for the Sabine-Neches Waterway.

Vessels desiring to depart from unaffected portions of Sabine Pass Channel must
obtain permission from the Captain of the Port and should contact VTS Port
Arthur at (409) 719-5070 or VHF-FM channels 01A or 65A.

All of the boat ramps south of the Sabine-Neches River to the Sabine River
jetties are also closed.

There is no identified impact to any area marshes, but responders continue to
monitor ecologically sensitive sites along the waterway. Responders recovered
one oiled bird, a heron, on Sunday and are investigating reports of other oiled
birds.

To report oiled or injured wildlife, please contact Rhonda Morgatroyd at (409)
719-5074. Members of the public should not attempt to capture any oiled wildlife.

The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a
joint investigation into the cause of the incident, and all parties are fully
cooperating.

 

***Media Note: Please use the following links to access photos of clean up
operations:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=762639

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=762635

http://www.flickr.com/photos/portarthuroilspill/sets/72157623277748930/