As the USCG informs, a crude oil discharge occurred in the Jamie Whitten Lock at mile marker 412 on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, Sunday, September 8. For the time being, the cause of the incident remains unknown and is under investigation.
Specifically, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley watchstanders were informed at 6:46 a.m. on Sunday from the National Response Centre that an unknown amount of crude oil was discharged from a damaged crude oil barge owned by Savage Inland Marine.
Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley, Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Nashville and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality are responding to the incident.
The source that caused the oil spill is not secured, whereas the crude oil is contained within the lock and dam and within the 35 feet of boom placed around the dam.
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In light of the oil spill, Sector Ohio Valley Captain of the Port closed the waterway from mile marker 410 to mile marker 414 on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway.
Recently, SAFETY4SEA focused on the leading roles that have to deal with an oil spill, and the actions that have to be taken, keeping in mind that ‘Oil spills at sea are generally much more damaging than those on land, as they can spread for hundreds of nautical miles polluting a great extent of coastlines, killing marine life, destroying ecosystems and damaging local economies, fishery and tourism.’
Concluding, to better deal with the challenges and marine pollution following oil spills, US MARAD announced that they will trial autonomous vessels for oil spill response.
