PAULSBORO — The Coast Guard, state and local agencies continue to respond today to an oil spill in the Delaware River near Paulsboro, reported Oct. 10.
The oil spill began Wednesday when the tanker Tigani started leaking number six bunker oil, fuel used to power the ship, while moored at the Citgo asphalt facility here. The tanker crew immediately implemented their emergency spill response plan and notified the Coast Guard, state and local agencies.
The source of the spill, the ship’s scupper pipe, was secured at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, and residual oil continued to leak until 9:30 p.m.
As of 8 a.m. today, cleanup crews from Clean Venture, as directed by the Unified Command, have collected about 1,300 gallons of oil.
The following actions are being taken as part of the response plan:
On-water skimming operations continue
Boom has been deployed around the ship to contain the spill
Boom has been deployed at the entrance of Woodbury and Mantua creeks to protect the shore
Shore line cleanup and assessment crews are conducting surveys two miles north and south of the site of the spill
The bunker oil was transferred internally aboard the ship to a seperate tank.
The cause of the spill is under investigation.
