US emergency response: vessel collision, oil spill cleanup, barge fire

On 25 March, the USCG said fish and shellfish sampling was underway, while the unified command was co-ordinating a multi-agency response, using all available resources to address the incident, to recover oil, protect sensitive environmental areas, and minimise the impact on local industries and wildlife.

No dispersants were used or authorised during the oil recovery operations, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and US Fish & Wildlife were monitoring for affected wildlife, while the Louisiana Department of Health ordered the precautionary closure of shellfish harvesting in areas near the response.

In Delaware Bay, a fire on a burning scrap metal barge being towed by Donjon Marine’s tug Douglas J was extinguished in the second week of March. The USCG deployed assets from its stations in Philadelphia, Cape May and its air station in Atlantic City to assist with the incident response.

While it was still alight, the barge was towed around two nautical miles off Maurice River Cove, New Jersey, to remove the threat it posed to other ships. The USCG established a safety zone, broadcast a warning notice to mariners and started investigating the reasons behind the marine accident.

On 18 March, a representative from Donjon Marine told Riviera that the fire on the barge was extinguished by firefighters and the barge was moored in a safe zone.

Other agencies involved in the response were Wilmington Fire Department, Delaware City Fire Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and Delaware Emergency Management.