In this video by the U.S. Coast Guard, Cmdr. James Elliot, commanding officer of Marine Safety Unit Galveston, discusses the response to the grounding of the tank ship Yasa Golden Dardanelles, Feb. 26, 2009.
The Yasa Golden Dardanelles had 26 crewmembers on board, and was carrying 621,000 barrels of low-sulphur fuel oil when it became grounded Feb. 20, 2009.
The 800-foot tank ship Yasa Golden Dardanelles was successfully refloated at 12:08 a.m., Feb. 24, 2009.
Coast Guard personnel from Marine Safety Unit Galveston oversaw the lightering operation, which began Feb. 23, 2009. The operation was successful in transferring more than 80,000 barrels of oil to the lightering vessel SPT Crusader. The transfer was conducted safely, ensuring personnel were not harmed, no pollution was released into the environment, and no damage sustained to either vessel.
(U.S. Coast Guard video/ Petty Officer Patrick D. Kelley)
