Coast Guard: Vessel Spills 12K Gallons Of Oil

VENICE, La. - WDSU .com

The Coast Guard and O'Brien's Response Management are responding to an oil spill that leaked from a motor vessel named Pac Alkaid, anchored 10 miles southeast of Southwest Pass near Venice.

Officials estimate the initial spill to have totaled about 12,000 gallons of bunker oil. The oil is believed to have leaked out from a 5 centimeter hole in the Pac Alkaid's hull, which is 5 feet below the waterline. The cause of the hole is currently unknown, officials said.

According to the Coast Guard, the Pac Alkaid reported the discharge at about 2 a.m. Friday when it was anchored 5 miles southeast of Southwest Pass.

Winds and currents pushed the oil to the northwest on Saturday and caused a sheen to wash up against the rocks of the Southwest Pass jetty. As a result, the Coast Guard ordered the vessel to move further offshore at about 11 a.m. in order to lessen the impact of the spill on the shoreline.

O'Brien's Response Management hired the Louisiana Responder -- a 220-foot vessel owned by the Marine Spill Recovery Corporation -- to clean up the spill. The Louisiana Responder has been at the scene of the spill since Friday, but waves and a lack of concentrated oil made the clean-up efforts less effective.

As of Saturday, the Coast Guard had sent four helicopter flights with observers over the spill location to photograph and assess the extent of the spill.

Commercial divers were also hired to inspect the hole in the Pac Alkaid's hull. Representatives from O'Brien's Response Management said the divers are currently awaiting parts to arrive on Saturday evening, which will then be used to try and plug the hole.

The Coast Guard and O'Brien's Response Management said they have formed a Unified Command, which will continue to monitor and assess the vessel's condition, the temporary repairs and cleanup.

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