HUNTINGTON BEACH (CNS) - No additional sheen has been observed near site of the October leak that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean, but the area will remain under observation overnight, officials said.
The U.S. Coast Guard said Saturday that crews observed a ``light sheen'' in the same area as the October leak as they prepared to work on the damaged oil pipeline and replace syntho-glass wrap being used to secure broken pipe, according to a statement from the Unified Command, which includes the Coast Guard and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The underwater pipeline has remained shut down since the initial incident on Oct. 2.
``Crews who were scheduled to conduct work on the pipeline observed and reported a sheen estimated at 30 feet by 70 feet in size,'' the statement said. ``Divers conducting planned assessments of the pipeline discovered small oil droplets near the damaged area following the sheen observation.''
The Coast Guard called the sighting a ``light sheen, not a slick.'' Such sheens are often seen when diesel gas is spilled, the Coast Guard said.
The Unified Command alerted pollution responders and oil spill response organizations to assess whether the reported sheen was related to the pipeline, the officials said. As of sunset Saturday, there was no sheen observed by ships or helicopters. An on-water recovery vessel was to remain in the vicinity overnight for monitoring.
``While there have been no further observations of oil droplets after the wrap was replaced and no further observations of sheen since the initial report this morning, we continue to monitor the site,'' said Coast Guard Capt. Rebecca Ore, captain of the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. ``The Unified Command remains committed to our community and the environment.''
The pipeline rupture spilled about 25,000 gallons of oil into the ocean, forcing the closure of beaches and harbors across Orange County.
USCG and National Transportation Safety Board investigators have identified a cargo ship named ``Beijing'' as a vessel involved in an ``anchor- dragging incident'' in January that may have contributed to the October leak.
Investigators boarded the vessel Thursday at the Port of Long Beach.
According to the Coast Guard, investigators determined the ship ``was involved in a January 25, 2021, anchor-dragging incident during a heavy weather event that impacted the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.'' The anchor- dragging occurred ``in close proximity'' to the underwater pipeline.
Beijing's owner, Capetanissa Maritime Corp. of Liberia, and operator, V.Ships Greece Ltd., have been named ``parties in interest'' in the investigation, a designation that allows the companies to hire attorneys and examine witnesses in the probe of the spill's cause.
In mid-October, the owner and operator of another ship, the MSC DANIT, were also named ``parties in interest'' in the investigation, also due to an ``anchor-dragging incident'' on Jan. 25 near the pipeline.
Authorities said earlier that the underwater pipeline had been dragged out of position, possibly by a ship's anchor. The subsequent rupture in the pipe was discovered at the point where the pipeline had been dragged.
Authorities said ``multiple pipeline scenarios and additional vessels of interest continue to be investigated.''