SAN FRANCISCO -- A mile-long sheen of bunker fuel oil drifted from a tanker anchored in the still waters of the San Francisco Bay Friday, triggering an emergency response by the U.S. Coast Guard, authorities said.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the agency got a report at around 8 a.m. reporting the sheen of drifting oil and tarballs streaming from the rear of Panamanian registered tanker Dubai Star that was anchored 2 1/1 miles south of the Bay Bridge.
A Coast Guard helicopter was seen flying over the spill, dropping at least one probe.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Melissa Lee said a massive response was under way.
“The leak occurred when they were transferring bunker fuel (from a barge to the tanker),” she said. “We are evaluating the situation and have resources responding. “
A high tide was expected in the Bay around 9 a.m. that could push the sheen toward Hunter's Point, Candlestick Point and the South Bay. Fortunately, the winds and waters were calm Friday morning.
Authorities said the Dubai Star was owned by South Harmony Shipping Inc. of Panama and was built in 2007 in Korea. It was designed to transport fuel and chemicals.
The leak comes nearly two years after the disastrous Cosco Busan bunker fuel spill.
“We learned a lot from the Cosco Busan,” Lee said.
The Cosco Busan sideswiped the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on a foggy morning on Nov. 7, 2007. The ship spilled 53,000 gallons of oil into the water, killing thousands of birds and other wildlife and fouling miles of shoreline.
The ship's pilot, John Cota, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the agency got a report at around 8 a.m. reporting the sheen of drifting oil and tarballs streaming from the rear of Panamanian registered tanker Dubai Star that was anchored 2 1/1 miles south of the Bay Bridge.
A Coast Guard helicopter was seen flying over the spill, dropping at least one probe.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Melissa Lee said a massive response was under way.
“The leak occurred when they were transferring bunker fuel (from a barge to the tanker),” she said. “We are evaluating the situation and have resources responding. “
A high tide was expected in the Bay around 9 a.m. that could push the sheen toward Hunter's Point, Candlestick Point and the South Bay. Fortunately, the winds and waters were calm Friday morning.
Authorities said the Dubai Star was owned by South Harmony Shipping Inc. of Panama and was built in 2007 in Korea. It was designed to transport fuel and chemicals.
The leak comes nearly two years after the disastrous Cosco Busan bunker fuel spill.
“We learned a lot from the Cosco Busan,” Lee said.
The Cosco Busan sideswiped the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on a foggy morning on Nov. 7, 2007. The ship spilled 53,000 gallons of oil into the water, killing thousands of birds and other wildlife and fouling miles of shoreline.
The ship's pilot, John Cota, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
