SAVANNAH -- A fuel tank ruptured Sunday on a ship at Georgia Ports' Ocean Terminal, causing what was described as a "significant" oil spill on the Savannah River just west of the Talmadge Bridge, closing the river to vessel traffic and filling the air with pungent diesel fumes.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bobby Nash said late Sunday the river would remain closed as cleanup efforts continue overnight.
"The source of the actual spill has been secured," Nash said shortly before 9 p.m. "No more fuel is coming out."
The 625-foot Liberty, owned by American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier LLC, was damaged as it was departing the port facility about 11:30 a.m, puncturing its hull and rupturing its starboard fuel tank.
The puncture had the potential to release as much as 65,000 gallons of fuel. By nightfall Sunday, an estimated 7,000 gallons of diesel had spilled.
Coast Guard Lt. Greg Riley said, "We have spill-containing booms as far down river as Fort Jackson and along River Street. We have a unified command center set up with industry and inter-agency partners. We have a lot of equipment deployed and more on standby."
He added: "It's red dye diesel, which is low-sulfur, so it's not a hazmat situation. Still, it's never good when you have that much fuel in the river."
Representatives of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division sampled the air and determined the incident posed no risk to public health, according to GPA spokesman Robert Morris.
Coast Guard Air Station Savannah conducted a flight to assess the environmental impact, and Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah was coordinating cleanup efforts, conducting shoreline assessments and investigating the cause of the incident, Nash said.
Jenifer Kimble, a spokeswoman for Crowley Maritime Corp., representing the vessel's owner, said assessments of the damage are under way.
"We're working with local authorities and the Coast Guard," she said. "Obviously the safety of the people of Savannah and surrounding environment is our top priority at this time."
Hazardous materials technicians from Savannah Fire & Emergency Services were also mobilized in a supportive role until about 6 p.m., said Mark Keller, spokesman for the fire department.
"We're there in an advisory role," Keller said. "We've got some containment equipment that can be utilized if needed."
RECENT SAVANNAH RIVER OIL SPILLS
-- March 26, 1986: A spill of 200 gallons of oil leak into the Pipemakers Canal. The Georgia Ports Authority takes responsibility as the leak was from a waste oil-holding tank in the machine shop.
-- Dec. 4, 1986: 50,000-gallons of fuel oil spills into the river. The Liberian freighter, Amazon Venture, is found to be the source. The pumping system failed causing the leak. The oil hits the Savannah Wildlife Refuge causing damage.
-- Oct. 28, 1987: Over 1,000 gallons of oil spills into the river at the Savannah Sugar Refinery due to equipment malfunction. The spill is quickly contained.
-- July 9, 1988: Up to 400 gallons of diesel fuel leak into the river when a work barge sinks.
-- Dec. 15, 1989: Up to 1,000 of oil is spilled. Concordia Marine Co. freighter, Afric Star is the source. The company is charged for the cleanup.
-- Aug. 30, 1990: Union Camp takes responsibility for a 500-gallon spill that occurred when a pipe ruptured at the mill.
-- November 1990: Savannah Electric and Power Co. has an 8,000-gallon leak at its Port Wentworth power plant.
-- December 1992: A minor spill occurs when the Baltic Skou leaves port and leaves a sheen on the river surface.
-- August 1994: Quick action by Paktank Corp. prevents about 65,000 gallon from spilling into the river. A sheen develops but the spill is confined to the property.
-- January 1998: A small spill of approximately 10 gallons halts construction at the Georgia Port Authority. The spill was near berthing construction just west of the Talmadge Bridge.
-- Nov. 17, 2004: The Panamanian-flagged Fortune Epoch, a 420-foot general cargo ship, leaks fewer than 1,000 gallons of intermediate-grade fuel oil into the ocean about 10 miles off Tybee Island. The leak kills at least 56 birds, including pelicans and loons.
-- June 10, 2006: The U.S. Coast Guard investigates a spill of at least 2,000 of crude oil that seeped into the river and the north bank of Hutchinson Island. Valero L.P., a chemical tank farm located near Fort Jackson, is responsible.
-- July 17, 2006: The container ship Vernet spills an estimated 22,000-29,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil. The spill shuts the port down for about 10 hours.
Source: Savannah Morning News files
The "red dye" in the fuel is more harmful to aquatic life than the removed sulfur would have been.
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