HONOLULU – The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and ECM Maritime Services continue to respond to Thursday’s oil spill within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Surveys from the shoreline of all three islets by Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel found no pollution or oiled wildlife.
Dive surveys on the Japanese fishing vessel Kotobuki Maru No. 38 found scrapes and three small (3-inch) holes in one fuel oil tank.
Some fuel is believed to remain in the tank, indicating less than 2,640 gallons were spilled during the incident. The exact amount of fuel remaining has not yet been determined. The vessel will remain in Midway until the hull is repaired.
The cause of the damage to the fishing vessel remains under investigation. The vessel apparently hit an obstruction near the entrance to the channel, but strong winds and heavy seas have precluded any investigation of the possible impact site.
Source: USCG D14 Public Affairs
