M/V Handy Gunner; Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon | 1997-Feb-02

Initial Notification: At 0843, February 1, 1997, the USCG MSO in Portland, Oregon received a report of a ship discharging an oily residue into the Willamette River. The USCG identified approximately 500 gallons of heavy oil in the water downstream from the M/V Handy Gunner. The vessel did not initially accept responsibility for the spill. Coast Guard personnel collected samples for fingerprinting by COIL and hired a contractor to begin cleanup activities. Based on initial sample analyses identifying the spilled material as IFO 380, the vessel owner accepted responsibility for the spill on February 2 and continued with the same cleanup contractor. The initial unified incident command consisted of the USCG and the Oregon DEQ to direct the spill response until the vessel owner's representative arrived the evening of February 3. USCG district 13. Keyword: boom, International Bird Rescue and Research Corporation, riprap, sorbent.