3 Birds Treated For Oil Contact As Crews Work To Clean Up Port Of LA Spill
WILMINGTON (CBSLA.com) — Crews continued working Monday to clean an oil spill from a cargo ship at the Port of Los Angeles, and officials said three birds with oil on them were being treated.
The spill was reported at 7:25 p.m. Sunday and prompted a HazMat response, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The vessel is a large car-carrying ship, and the leak left a visible sheen in the water, according to LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Fire department crews aboard boats placed booms around the ship to contain the leak.
Coast Guard Petty Officer SondraKay Kneen said three birds were found with oil on them, and they were turned over to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network for treatment.
She said it was still unknown how much oil spilled, but private crews were working to clean it from the water.
A unified command was established that includes personnel from the Coast Guard, the California Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response, and the responsible party, the shipping company, Kneen said.
The leak came from the 577-foot cargo ship Istra Ace, which is registered in Panama.
"The ship was reported to have been leaking heavy fuel in the Cerritos channel at Berth 198," Kneen said earlier. "Reports of oil were also observed throughout portions of Cerritos Channel, where booming strategies have been employed."
The Coast Guard ordered a restriction of recreational and commercial vessel traffic in the affected area, Kneen said.
"These restrictions will ensure that vessels do not impede clean-up operations as well as avoid any possible contamination," Kneen said.
"Due to response efforts, the operations of the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge have been temporarily suspended, restricting vessel traffic from transiting underneath the bridge," Kneen said. "However, automobile traffic is not affected."
Anyone in the area who spots wildlife that may be affected by the oil were urged not to try to capture the animal, but to call the Care Network at (877) 823-6926."
Anyone interested in filing a claim of damages in connection with the spill can call (888) 850-8486.
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