T/V Yupex; Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii

Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii | 1991-Nov-20

Initial Notification: At 0630 on November 20, 1991, the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Honolulu received a report from the USCG Cutter Sassafras of a strong odor of diesel near their berth on Sand Island in Honolulu Harbor. USCG pollution investigators identified the tank vessel Yupex, as the source of the spill. The Yupex is a small Panamanian-flagged tanker owned by a Korean company that provides fuel to fishing fleets. While taking on fuel at the Pacific Resources Incorporated (PRI) terminal at pier 29, a valve was left partially open allowing diesel being loaded into the tanker's #1 ballast tanks to leak out into the harbor. The diesel continued to leak as the vessel transited to pier 35 where it docked to take on more cargo. An independent marine surveyor gauged the tanks on board the Yupex and found 21,500 gallons less than what the vessel reported to have on board when it left pier 29. The Yupex had also filed a protest with the PRI terminal indicating that they received 5,000 gallons less diesel than the terminal claims they pumped. On the basis of this information, the USCG estimated that the volume of diesel spilled was about 25,000 gallons. Cleanup was initiated at 0700 on November 20 by the USCG contractor Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO). The vessel's owners accepted responsibility for the cleanup later the same day. Cleanup was completed at 0900 on November 23, 1991. USCG district 14. Keyword: containment boom, endangered species, evaporation, sorbent boom, vacuum trucks, skimmers.