The Unified Command continued its response on Friday (16 December) to the fishing vessel Speranza Marie grounding on Santa Cruz Island, according to the US Coast Guard.
Manifold Times previously reported the vessel ran aground on 15 December and the 60-foot fishing vessel was carrying roughly 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, ran aground in Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island at approximately 2am.
All available actions are being taken to ensure the safety of the public and response personnel, recover spilled materials, and protect environmentally sensitive areas.
Response teams will attempt to stabilise the vessel. Once completed, they will begin removing diesel fuel and cargo from the vessel to help salvage efforts and minimise environmental impact.
In addition to those efforts, teams will deploy booms during the defuelling and cargo removal operations to help contain any additional spillage.
Thursday, debris was removed from the water near the impact site, and teams conducted shoreline and vessel assessments to help plan and prepare for future fuel recovery and salvage operations.
The Unified Command consists of representatives from the Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and the responsible party, Ocean Angel VI LLC.
No wildlife impacts have been reported/observed at this time, but crews are monitoring for them. Trained responders from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network have been put on standby and will be activated should they be needed.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
Related: Unified Command responds to bunker spill after fishing vessel ran aground on Santa Cruz Island
Photo credit: US Coast Guard
Published: 20 December, 2022
