Barge CBR 2017

Background

On 29th August 2018, the towing vessel Savage Pathfinder (IMO 578286) was pushing a fuel barge and approaching the ro-ro vessel Endurance (IMO 9121273) (264 metres long and 32 metres wide, operated by American Roll-on Roll-off (ARC)) in preparation for refuelling, when a collision occurred. The Barge CBR 2017 hit the ro-ro vessel Endurance while it was docked awaiting fuel at dock No. 4 near Port Arthur (Texas, US). The starboard hull of the barge was torn open, causing a spill of some 50 m3 of marine diesel into the port waters.

Spill response

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) rapidly coordinated the response directly on site, with the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the modelling of the fate of the oil spill.

The response operations on the water consisted in laying booms around the leaking barge to contain the oil and allow for its mechanical recovery.

The spill continued until 2 September.

Over the following five days, sorbents were used to recover the fuel on the surface.

Karina Erickson, a spokeswoman for the Texas General Land Office, said responders used 416 bales of boom and 55 bales of sorbent pads to trap and remove the spilled fuel, adding that “2,800 gallons of oily water mixture was recovered with on-scene skimming equipment and vacuum trucks.”

No measurable environmental impact was caused.