Tosco Ferndale - Overseas Boston Spill
(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)


    Black oil near the bow of the ship and sheen escaping under the boom.
    Taken by Andy Carlson (WDFW), May 13, 2001, about 06:30 p.m.

Summary Information

Date of Incident:  
Wednesday, June 13, 2001, about 12:40 p.m.

Location:  
TOSCO pier, Ferndale, WA

Product/Quantity:  
Initial estimate was 10 to 20 barrels of oil  released to the water.  (More product was released, but did not make it to the water.)

Cause:  
The loading arm uncoupled while product was being off loaded from the Overseas Boston. (The reason for the uncoupling is currently under investigation.)
 

Photographs

Maps/Drawings

  

Tosco-Overseas Boston Closeout Statement

Based on the information gathered, Ecology determined the cause of the coupler breakaway and the subsequent spill was failure of the No. 4 MLA coupler to remain locked on the ship’s flange. The origin of the loss of lock could not be determined given the information gathered.

Ecology made the following prevention recommendations:

To the marine terminal operator (in addition to the actions already undertaken):

1. Ensure that the marine loading arm coupler manufacturer provides a comprehensive list of inspection and preventive maintenance items for the Nos. 3 and 4 MLA couplers as well as the Nos. 1 and 2 couplers. The list should include the appropriate torque values for all bolts that require periodic inspection for tightness.

2. Ensure that all the appropriate marine terminal procedures are modified to reference the use of the new positive hydraulic shut-off valves and E-clips located on the couplers.

3. Ensure that all the appropriate marine terminal procedures sufficiently emphasize that the design of the marine loading arm couplers requires full rotation of the actuator collar to ensure proper (and continuous) seal.

To the marine loading arm and coupler manufacturers:

1. Investigate a previous coupler release in New Jersey to determine if there are similarities to this coupler release that require notification of other facilities utilizing hydraulically-actuated couplers of similar design by the manufacturer.

2. Review the coupler manuals supplied to facilities utilizing these couplers and ensure that all inspection and preventive maintenance items are clearly stated. Include torque values for all bolts that require periodic inspection for tightness.

3. Investigate the marine terminal operator's conclusion that the locking washers on the four bolts holding the clamp cylinder bracket to the coupler “had lost much of their spring.” Should the conclusion show merit, ensure that other facilities with similar couplers are properly notified to inspect and/or replace those locking washers.

4. Review the prevention measures undertaken on the couplers installed at this marine terminal for potential application to similar couplers installed at other facilities.

5. Review the loading arm manufacturer's ISO 9001 quality control system to ascertain how the couplers were installed without the over-center lock indicators, why replacement indicators were not subsequently ordered and installed, and why the opening of the No. 4 MLA coupler during an installation and commissioning hydrotest under the loading arm manufacturer's supervision was not documented.

 

Last Update - June 20, 2001  p.m.

Most of the oil that was spilled into the water was contained under the TOSCO pier and recovered by Thursday evening. During Wednesday night and Thursday morning, an undetermined amount of oil escaped containment. Some oil was observed in open water south of the TOSCO pier down to Sandy Point, but most of the oil that escaped containment moved north as far as Point Whitehorn. About a mile of shoreline near Cherry Point was lightly oiled, and a two-foot wide band along about 100 feet of the shoreline at the tip of Cherry Point was heavily oiled. Beach cleanup crews were dispatched on Thursday afternoon to remove oiled beach wrack and heavy oil deposits. No oiled wildlife were reported or observed, but a pair of bald eagles and numerous gulls were observed in the area.

Impacts to various fish and wildlife resources are being evaluated. The Cherry Point stock of herring is presently spawning in the vicinity of the spill and tribes and state agencies are paying particular attention to potential impacts to this stock because the abundance has been depressed for several years. Chemical and biological samples are being taken to evaluate potential impacts on the herring eggs in the vicinity.

 

Summary - June 13, 2001  

On Wednesday June 13, during off-loading operations the loading arm became uncoupled from the ship, Overseas Boston. As a result oil was released onto the pier, the deck of the ship, and into the water.

Immediate steps were taken to stop the flow of oil, and contain what oil had already spilled. As a result most of the oil was keep under the pier and most of it had been recovered by Thursday evening.

Unfortunately, some oil escaped containment on Wednesday night/ Thursday morning resulting in the oiling of about a mile of shoreline north of the refinery. Most of the shoreline  was only lightly oiled, but there was about 100 feet which was heavily oiled. All oiling was in a narrow band at the high tide line. 

The most significant potential impact is herring, which are spawning right now in the area. Their eggs and larvae are very sensitive.