T/V Eastern Lion; Valdez, Alaska

Valdez, Alaska | 1994-May-21

Initial Notification: On May 21, 1994, MSO Valdez received a report from the master of T/V Eastern Lion (on lease to British Petroleum[BP]) of oil in the water around the vessel loading at berth 5 of the Alyeska Marine Terminal. Apparently a crack in one of the wing tanks leaked out an estimated 200 bbls of North Slope crude and because the normal containment boom that surrounds loading tankers was sucked up against the hull, from 10 to 20 barrels of oil escaped into the Port of Valdez. The Eastern Lion began transferring fuel from its wing tanks to its center tanks and arranging to lighter the entire 800,000 barrels onto the waiting T/V Arco Fairbanks. Alyeska (SERVS) response crews immediately began conducting cleanup operations; however, the shorelines on Saw Island and near berths 4 and 5 were lightly impacted. Sheens from the spill moved east and west with the tidal current, extending from the Soloman Gulch Salmon Hatchery on the east to Anderson Bay on the west, about 9 miles. Sheens were also reported on the north side of the Port of Valdez near Duck Flats and the mouth of Mineral Creek. Weather throughout the incident was mild with relatively calm winds. USCG district 17. Keyword: none.