M/V Brussel; New York Harbor, NY

New York Harbor, NY | 2003-Dec-02

Initial Notification: The M/V BRUSSEL suffered a transfer pipeline break on its deck prior to noon on 12/2 during a bunkering operation in NY Harbor's Stapleton Anchorage, resulting in a discharge to the water of #6 fuel oil potentially of medium size. Coast Guard Activities New York representatives arrived on-scene at 1103 to investigate and oversee response operations. As the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Activities New York oversaw the Responsible Party's cleanup efforts, opened a pollution fund number for their own expenditures, and is responding from the ACTNY office on Staten Island. Other responding agencies were notified per standard procedures, and some deployed to ACT NY or engaged through phone contact. Further work was done to determine how much of the potential 79,800 gallons was actually discharged to the deck of the vessel, and how much migrated to the water. Shoreline impacts were observed along a 1/4 to 1/2 mile of beach south of Norton Point on Coney Island, with sheen visible from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Coney Island during an overflight prior to sunset. The impacted area was snared to reduce refloating, and protection efforts were focused on Coney Island Creek and Inlet, but other response operations occurred after first light overflights and shoreline assessments. It was determined on the second day that the total amount spilled was less than 5,000 gallons.