US Coast Guard tackles oil spill at Ala Wai Harbour, Hawaii

Los Angeles (ANTARA) — The United States Coast Guard says it is responding to an oil spill at Ala Wai Harbour in Honolulu, Hawaii, in coordination with local authorities. The spill-response team from the Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) is on site to clean up red-dyed diesel from the water, the Coast Guard said on Monday, 18 May.

So far, officials have deployed 23 sorbent socks and cleaning materials to contain the spill and collect the fuel.

The volume and source of the spill are not yet known and are under investigation. There have been no reports of injuries or wildlife impacts, the statement said.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a report on Sunday evening local time of a diesel fuel spill near a dock on the harbour’s northern side.

After deploying a federal on-scene coordinator and environmental-response investigators, the Coast Guard assessed the incident and transferred spill-response oversight to federal authorities.

The PENCO crew arrived on site and began cleanup operations on Monday morning.

The Coast Guard urged members of the public to keep a safe distance from the response area while mitigation measures continue.