OIL SPILL - Off Oregon coast

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NWCN.com

Experts investigate 12,000-gallon oil spill off Oregon coast

08/09/2001

By Theresa Bell, KGW.com

PORTLAND – The Coast Guard is investigating an oil spill off the Central Oregon Coast that could be moving toward the popular Sea Lion Caves.

"The concern here is that it's the heavy oil, which is harder to evaporate," said Lieutenant Jeff Pile with the US Coast Guard. "The IFO-380 oil is a lot more resilient then diesel, and so it's a lot harder to get rid of."

Coast Guard officials said the Swedish vessel, Tristan, accidentally spilled about 12,000 gallons of heavy oil into the ocean, about 35 miles off Heceta Head.

"They were moving their oil from one fuel tank to the next and there was some type of mechanical, engineering problem -- a misalignment -- and they dumped 12,000 gallons of this heavy fuel oil overboard," Pile explained.

The oil was on board to power the ship as it transported cars to Tacoma, Washington.

A Coast Guard plane flew over the scene to assess the spill Thursday morning. Experts who study currents in the area are working to figure out which direction the spill is headed and how it will react in the water.

"If it (the spill) gets closer to the shore, the danger is much greater. There is more marine life closer to the shore. If it moves that direction, we definitely don't have the assets to deal with it alone, we'll have to call in contractors to help," Pile warned.

Turbulent, 10-foot waves now cresting in the area are helping break up the oil, which is beginning to harden and bunch up into ball-shaped clumps in the cold water.

The captain of Tristan reported a 12-mile by 12-mile spill area but wasn't sure which way the current was taking it.

"If it stays out in the open ocean, that will be good news for us," Pile said. "All the energy from the waves, the sunlight and the current will break it up. If that happens, there is not going to be much environmental impact."

The vessel is now heading toward Port Angeles where Coast Guard officials plan to go on board to investigate. Pollution experts will take samples from the side of the ship to learn more about the potential environmental threat.

Experts with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also helping assess the spill.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 2001


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