  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - May 29, 2008
08-148
BELLEVUE – Parts of a diesel oil sheen in the waters off Keyport on the Kitsap Peninsula are dissipating this afternoon. The Poulsbo Fire Department, state Department of Ecology (Ecology) and U.S. Coast Guard continue their response to the spill, which began after citizens reported oil on the water this morning.
Crews are using oil-absorbing pads to sop up oil around a 32-foot wooden tug boat that sank at an unknown time overnight at its berth at a boat repair facility. Diesel fuel in the vessel’s mostly-empty fuel tanks rose to the surface of the water. The exact amount of oil that was in the tanks is not known. The vessel can hold up to 120 gallons of fuel.
The fire department used its spill-response trailer – supplied by Ecology – to place floating oil-containment booms and oil-absorbing pads around the vessel. Staff from PM Boatworks of Keyport assisted the fire department.
U.S. Naval environmental specialists also assisted in the response by searching for spill impacts along area shorelines. The dock where the sunken boat was berthed and the Keystone Beach were the only shoreline areas affected. Oil is evaporating quickly from the cobble beach. Crews will clean oil off the pier pilings.
The trailer is part of Ecology’s oil-spill strategy to equip and train local responders. The fire department also brought in spill-response trailers from Bainbridge Island and Kingston. Ecology will restock the trailers.
A small amount of the oil floated beyond the containment boom, forming a widespread layer that is too thin to recover from the water. At one point this morning the sheen covered an area estimated at 1,000 feet by 1,000 feet. This sheen is breaking up and evaporating.
The Coast Guard has opened the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to quickly hire a spill-response contractor, who will continue to remove oil from the water within the containment boom, and clean oil from the pier pilings.
The vessel’s owner will have the boat lifted out of the water.
There have been no reports of harm to wildlife, but all oil spills add damage to the environment.
The cause of the sinking is under investigation.
###
Media Contacts:
Larry Altose, Ecology media relations, 425-649-7009; pager 206-663-1785
Coast Guard District 13 Public Affairs, 206-220-7237
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
