Wednesday, May 29, was an ordinary morning for the Pusher Tug Clyde S. Vanenkevort. Then, around 6 a.m., the tug notified the U.S. Coast Guard and the Oil Spill Recovery Organization with a message no one wants to hear – there had been an oil spill. Gallagher Marine Systems also reported the spill to the Minnesota Duty Officer. 373 gallons of red dyed diesel fuel entered Lake Superior at the Silver Bay Marina.
The spill occurred during a fuel transfer between the tug and the barge, Clyde S. Vanenkevort. Clean-up immediately began, helping to mitigate the danger to wildlife that an oil spill poses. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency joined forces with local officials at the marina for the clean-up.
Friday, May 31, saw the recovery and clean-up completed, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard, who verified that the location of the spill, including under the pier, had been cleaned. In a statement shared with the North Shore Community Radio, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Joe McGinnis said, “The facility and the USCG Marine Safety Unit Duluth Pollution Responders confirmed that the recovery and clean-up efforts in the area were sufficient. With the impacted area cleaned and the vessel shifted or boomed, the facility reopened to receive vessels.” Lt. McGinnis added that the Clyde S. Vanenkevort will be surrounded by approximately 800 feet of boom to contain and capture any missing oil with sorbent material and the hard boom, according to information released by the North Shore Community Radio on May 31. “USCG pollution responders will still be in the field today, monitoring final stages of clean-up around the vessel,” Lt. McGinnis finished.
The Coast Guard has not received any reports of the diesel spill’s impact on wildlife at this time. If a sheen on the lake or an oil spill related impact is noted, people are to contact the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. Together, we can keep our lake looking beautiful.
