Spring Break
Deleware River spills leaves massive clean up
Kaushal Toprani
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Sci-Tech
- Page 1 of 1
The Cypus-flagged Athos I tanker began leaking crude oil into the Delaware River around 9:15 p.m. Nov. 26 as it prepared to make a delivery to the Citgo refinery in Paulsboro, NJ. Immediately, all water traffic was stopped. The leak was stopped within an hour. Initially, it was believed that 30,000 gallons of crude oil were leaked into the river; officials now say that the number could be as high as 473,500 gallons. About fifty birds were killed by the spill, with thousands more birds and fish needing attention.
A 13.5-ft. propeller may have been the cause of the accident. The propeller fell off an Army Corps of Engineers dredge in April, and subsequent searches were unsuccessful. Divers on Saturday found a six-foot gash in the underwater cargo tank. However, the Army Corps are skeptical of the theory, saying they had used sonar to determine that there was no obstruction up to a 40-ft. depth, with 2,400 vessels crossing the same area successfully since April. Army Corps officials say the water may have been too shallow to allow Athos I to berth.
It may take two to three months to remove all the oil, with other side effects lasting longer. Private contractors are being called in to remove the oil and place thousands of feet of boom in order to contain the spill. Earlier this week, the heavy rain and wind hampered efforts to contain and clean up the floating oil slick. The slick has spread itself out over a distance of about 40 miles. The surrounding area is home to bald eagles, golden eagles, and thousands of different types of waterfowl.
Over 1,000 workers are part of the crew that is cleaning up the water and animals. Oil makes it hard for the affected wildlife to swim, fly or keep warm. Workers are using bottles of Dawn dish washing liquid to clean off the helpless creatures. With about 15 bottles of the household clean solution, almost all the oil can be removed from one duck. The last oil spill in the Delaware River was in 1995, when a tanker was forced away from its dock by strong wind and spilled 40,000 gallons of oil.
A 13.5-ft. propeller may have been the cause of the accident. The propeller fell off an Army Corps of Engineers dredge in April, and subsequent searches were unsuccessful. Divers on Saturday found a six-foot gash in the underwater cargo tank. However, the Army Corps are skeptical of the theory, saying they had used sonar to determine that there was no obstruction up to a 40-ft. depth, with 2,400 vessels crossing the same area successfully since April. Army Corps officials say the water may have been too shallow to allow Athos I to berth.
It may take two to three months to remove all the oil, with other side effects lasting longer. Private contractors are being called in to remove the oil and place thousands of feet of boom in order to contain the spill. Earlier this week, the heavy rain and wind hampered efforts to contain and clean up the floating oil slick. The slick has spread itself out over a distance of about 40 miles. The surrounding area is home to bald eagles, golden eagles, and thousands of different types of waterfowl.
Over 1,000 workers are part of the crew that is cleaning up the water and animals. Oil makes it hard for the affected wildlife to swim, fly or keep warm. Workers are using bottles of Dawn dish washing liquid to clean off the helpless creatures. With about 15 bottles of the household clean solution, almost all the oil can be removed from one duck. The last oil spill in the Delaware River was in 1995, when a tanker was forced away from its dock by strong wind and spilled 40,000 gallons of oil.
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