SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Sector San Juan pollution responders, working in consultation with local and federal environmental agencies, are overseeing efforts by specialized companies, Tuesday, to remove a substantial pollution threat from a grounded sailing vessel just off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico.
The Coast Guard federalized pollution response efforts and established an Incident Command, Friday, for the vessel Obsession, a 72-foot sailing catamaran that ran hard aground on a reef July 21, 2024. The incident command is currently overseeing the removal of an estimated 800 to 1,500 gallons of diesel as well as the oil from the vessel’s engines and any potential hazardous materials that may be onboard.
Pollution response efforts were federally assumed at the request of the vessel’s owner after he relayed that his attempts to hire a commercial salvage company to remove the vessel were unsuccessful and required efforts which exceeded his capacity to resolve the matter.
The established Incident Command includes an environmental unit comprised by subject matter expert representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, who have been coordinating and collaborating in this effort since the day of the incident.
Due to the potential impacts to the water and the environment, the Coast Guard activated the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted Resolve Marine as the primary oil spill removal organization for this case, who in turn has subcontracted Clean Harbors. These companies moved equipment and personnel to Culebra to conduct the fuel removal operation.
An emergency Endangered Species Act consultation was initiated identifying the risk to the Elkhart, Staghorn and Lobbed Star corals, the Green, Leatherback, and Hawksbill sea turtles and the Nassau Grouper.
“Our priority is to remove the pollution threat this vessel represents as safely and quickly as possible,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan’s chief of response. “This is a challenging operation due to the remote location, the required specialized equipment and logistics, and the approach of a developing weather disturbance that threatens the area. We appreciate the close collaboration of the local and federal partner agencies in this effort, the oil spill removal organization, and the Coast Guard personnel overseeing the response, as we collectively seek to protect the pristine waters, environment, and sensitive habitat of Flamenco Beach.”
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a VHF Channel 16 distress communication from the sailing vessel Obsession, at 7:51 p.m. on July 21, 2024, reporting the vessel had run aground with four people on board and was taking on water just off Flamenco Beach. Initial search and rescue efforts between the Coast Guard and a responding Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit identified the vessel as hard aground on a reef in shallow water. No injuries or medical emergencies were reported in this case. The vessel occupants initially chose to remain aboard the vessel to attempt to dewater the vessel, and a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Borinquen delivered two dewatering pumps to the vessel. Further assessments revealed that one of the vessel’s pontoons had been breached, that the vessel fuel tanks remained intact, and that it would require an extensive effort and longer-term evolution to safely remove the vessel from the reef and the fuel and oil products onboard.
Watchstanders initially conducted interagency notifications and coordinated an aerial assessment of the incident location that was carried out by the aircrew of a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen.
No signs of pollution in the water have been identified, and the Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances that led to this vessel grounding.
People looking to report oil pollution in the water may contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
-USCG-