Liaison Update #4

UPDATE: 12/19/22

OES Report # 22-7342; NRC Report #1355028

INCIDENT INFORMATION
Date of Report: December 15, 2022
Incident Name: Speranza Marie Grounding
Location: Chinese Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara County
Product details: Diesel and hydraulic fluid

INCIDENT BACKGROUND
A Unified Command continues to manage a response to a discharge of diesel and hydraulic fluid from a fishing vessel that ran aground near Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara County. The vessel, owned by Ocean Angel VI, LLC, has a capacity of 4,000 gallons, and was estimated to be carrying approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, as well as an unknown amount of hydraulic fluid. Representatives within the Unified Command Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR), Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and Ocean Angel VI, LLC.

INCIDENT UPDATE
The vessle remains in place, and Global Diving and Salvage, a vessel salvage contractor, is working to stabilize, defuel, and remove vessel. A non-recoverable sheen is present within Chinese Harbor. CDFW-OSPR and National Park Service staff are assessing potential impacts to intertidal habitats and wildlife. Efforts are ongoing to assess and remove any pollution threats from the vessel prior to salvage operations. Based on the continuing analysis of the vessel’s structure, apporpriate rigging and anchor systems will be utilized to move and refloat the vessel. The USCG has established a safety zone around the incident site and a notice to mariners is in place for boaters to avoid the area.

WILDLIFE IMPACTS
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has been notified and remain on standby to assist in the event impacted wildlife need to be captured. A dead cormorant was recovered near the site on Friday, 12/16 , and the carcass has been retained. The squid vessel was estimated to have 16,000 lbs of dead squid on board. All recoverable squid will be removed and disposed of properly to reduce the attraction of other wildlife on the scene.

Anyone observing oiled wildlife should not attempt to capture it. Instead, please report observations of oiled wildlife to the oiled wildlife hotline at 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926)

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are not requested at this time. If volunteers are needed in the future, information will be available https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/.

MEDIA
Media inquiries can be directed to the US Coast Guard at [email protected].

More information will be shared when it becomes available.