The US Coast Guard informed that it is responding to a diesel oil spill in the Tennessee River near Paducah, Kentucky, that took place on February 19. The spill came from a vessel that hit a pier, while being transported by an assist tug to a dry dock.
Watchstanders at US Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report that the vessel Patricia I. Hart, while being transported by an assist tug to a dry dock, hit a pier at James Marine Inc., at mile marker 4.5 on the Tennessee River.
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The pier opened a small gash in the vessel, which caused approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel to discharge into the water. The source of the discharge has now been secured.
E3, an oil spill response organization, managed to recover about 250 gallons of oil from the water and removed the remaining 2,700 gallons of oil from the ship’s fuel tanks. It also contained the spill with sorbent pads and containment boom.
As of now, there are no reports of injuries or waterway impacts caused by the incident.
In addition, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah arrived at the area of the incident to investigate the incident. Moreover, US Coast Guard members will return to the scene on February 20, to resume the investigation.
The cause of the incident is being investigated.
