Tanker Crash Threatens Chesapeake Area

At Least 15,000 Barrels of Heavy Oil Spilled

By ELIS

January 25, 2001
6:00 AM EST

The US Coast Guard this morning continues its efforts to approach a leaking oil tanker off the coast of Piney Point, Maryland near the mouth of the Potomac River.  At approximately 22:00, during last night’s severe winter storm, a tugboat collided with a submerged object that caused a minor fuel tank to explode and ignite the tugboat in the Pautuxent River area of the Bay.  

The flaming tugboat crashed into the Tanker Kenaga initiating the release of oil into the Potomac River.  The Tanker Kenaga was heading towards an unloading terminal near Piney Point, Maryland and carrying a total of 30,000 barrels of oil.  The crash occurred on rising tide, and the high wave and wind conditions have accelerated the spread of oil and it is now estimated that 15,000 barrels of No. 6 fuel oil have leaked from the ship.

The captain of the vessel informed the National Response System soon after the accident.  However, critical immediate cleanup efforts have been impeded by the continuing bad weather.  Weather forecasts predict that the strong winds and heavy rain will not subside until around 11:00 this morning.

The oil has formed thick slicks around the boat.  The Federal on-scene coordinator for the Baltimore region, Captain Roger Peoples, has ordered a boom to be placed around the spill and vacuum pumps and skimmers are standing by waiting for the storm to die down.  Under calmer weather conditions, No. 6 oil can be readily contained and vacuumed since its high viscosity prevents it from mixing with the water column.  Considering the current severity of the weather, however, the oil is likely to break into tarballs and patches which will persist in the River.

All involved parties are concerned about the oil traveling up the Potomac River and affecting the significant ecological resources of the area, which include EPA-classified environmentally sensitive intertidal marshes and coastal areas, reef and habitat restoration sites, and local oyster reefs and blue crab populations.