USCG Responds to Vessel Allision with Pier on Maumee River

The Coast Guard is responding to a report of an oil sheen and a damaged vessel in the vicinity of the Maumee River, after a 730-foot bulk carrier reportedly allided with a dock near Toledo, Ohio.

The motor vessel CSL Tadoussac, a Canadian-flagged 730-foot self-loading bulk carrier, incurred a puncture in its starboard stern bunker tank when it backed into the pier of the Torco dock at the CSX facility just before 8:30 a.m.

The vessel was reportedly carrying 27,000 tons of iron ore.  It is owned by CSL Group, based in Montreal.

Crewmembers aboard the CSL Tadoussac immediately started pumping fuel out of the punctured tank and into another of the ship’s tanks in order to bring the fuel level below the puncture mark. The discharge of fuel was stopped at about 10:15 a.m.

The amount of fuel that leaked from the ship is unknown at this time.

At 8:24 a.m., the master of the ship notified a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Detroit about the allision at the CSX Toledo Ore Dock. The master also immediately notified the National Response Center of the fuel oil leak.

Sector Detroit then notified response teams and accident investigators from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Toledo, Station Toledo and the Toledo Fire Department.

There were no reported injuries to any personnel and there was minor damage to the dock.

Approximately 800 feet of oil containment boom has been stretched across the Torco dock slip and is currently containing the oil sheen within the slip to assist with clean up. The O'Brien's Response Management Inc. has been contracted to clean-up the fuel spill and is currently on scene working with the Coast Guard and other local responders.

"The Coast Guard is working with O'Brien's Response Management Inc. and our local response partners to mitigate any potential environmental damage to the Maumee River," said Lt. John Adkins, executive officer of Marine Safety Unit Toledo.

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Source: http://www.uscgnews.com