T/S El Guanuco; Guayanilla, Puerto Rico

Guayanilla, Puerto Rico | 1994-Dec-05

Initial Notification: On December 5, 1994, a Venezuelan tanker carrying 87,480 barrels of asphalt ran aground three miles off the coast of Guayanilla, Puerto Rico just southeast of the entrance to Guayanilla Bay. The vessel was resting on soft bottom so that the risk of a major spill was relatively small. Precautions were taken, however, due to the potential for extensive environmental impact and the difficulty in responding to this heavy product. The USCG arranged for a lightering vessel to arrive by week's end. However, by December 8, swells in the area had increased; large swell hit the ship broadside and refloated it without incident. USCG district 7. Keyword: potential spill.