T/B New Jersey; Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal | 1993-Sep-18

Initial Notification: The T/B New Jersey grounded at 0130 on September 18, 1993, in the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal. The tug and barge continued through the canal and tied up on the Delaware River side. The initial reports from vessels and responders were that the amount of the loss of #6 black oil from #1 starboard tank or the extent of oil trailing the vessel could not be determined. Heavy fog prevented an overflight of the potentially impacted areas from daybreak on September 18 until late afternoon. The C&D Canal remained closed from the time of the incident report until Saturday afternoon when the first overflights reported visible light sheen, but no visible oil in the canal or its immediate approaches. USCG response vessel's personnel reported only small oil streamers from off Turkey Point to the Elk River. Soundings of the T/B New Jersey by the AST on the same afternoon suggested that the maximum loss would be 4,915 gallons, but a lesser amount was anticipated because no new oil sightings had been reported. A first light overflight on September 19 noted that the light sheen seen the previous day was no longer visible. Some sheen was reported in a small boat basin on the west end of the canal and oil was seen on the shoreline near Port Herman. This sand and gravel shoreline was oiled for about 1,500 yards between Town Point Neck and Sandy Point near the western entrance to the C&D Canal. USCG district 5. Keyword: bioremediation.