Barge Rhode Island; Linden, NJ

Linden, NJ | 2001-Mar-20

Initial Notification: Early on the morning of 20 March 2001 the tank barge Rhode Island, owned and operated by Moran Towing, departed the TOSCO refinery in Linden, NJ loaded with 48,000 barrels of #6 oil and transited New York City to New Haven, CT. After the barge departed workers at the TOSCO facility discovered oil around their piers. They initiated a clean-up and notified the US Coast Guard Activities New York. The T/B Rhode Island meanwhile went to anchorage off New Haven, CT and Areas had to be cleaned several times as oil continued to wash on shore for several days. Primary clean-up end point was determined to be when all affected areas are unaffected by two tide cycles. Primary clenup was successfully concluded on the 12th day. No re-oiling on 3 April, and all areas met the two tide cycle criteria. Operations were transferred to a monitor, response and remediation standards to potential reports of re-oiling by either the CG, NYS DEC or the public. commenced lightering operations. On 23 March, the Marine Safety Office Field Station Coram starts receiving reports of thick, black oil washing up on beaches covering 25 miles on the north shore of Long Island, NY. The Coast Guard response team discovered a four-foot swath of oil at the high tide line at West Meadow Town Beach. Oil was confirmed from Sunken Meadow State Park to Wading River, NY. The Group/Marine Safety Office Long Island Sound (GRU/MSO) identified the T/B Rhode Island had an eight inch by one and one half-inch crack in the hull. The National Response Corporation (NRC) was hired to conduct manual shoreline cleanup. A unified Command was started consisting of the USCG, NY DEC, and Moran. The weather initially was, winds from the NW at 15-20 knots. Wednesday, north winds at 10-15 knots are predicted to shift and be from the W-SW at 10-15 knots by the afternoon hours. Waves: The seas were forecast to be 1-2 feet. Precipitation: No precipitation was predicted. Ceiling/Visibility: Clear skies were forecast. Visibility expected to be unrestricted. Temperature: Throughout this forecast, temperatures are expected to range from highs in the 40's to lows in the 20's. The GRU/MSO obtained samples from the barge and from the beach and had them tested by the Central Oil Identification Laboratory (COIL). The results were a positive match. The COTP LIS closed the case on 3 April, 2001. USCG district 1. Keyword: Endangered species, groundtruth, remote sensing, reoiling.