Buzzards Bay

Buzzard’s Bay: One Year Later

April 27, 2004, marks one year since the Bouchard tank barge B. No. 120 ran aground and spilled approximately 55,000 gallons of Number 6 fuel oil in Buzzards Bay. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) Providence has been working with several of its partners the past year to clean up the spill and to implement changes that can help prevent a similar disaster in the future. To date, more than $40 million has been spent on cleanup efforts. 99.8 percent of the shoreline areas that were oiled as a result of the spill have been cleaned, inspected by a combined team representing federal, state, local, and responsible party representatives, and found to meet the cleanup criteria under Massachusetts state law. A state-licensed company, GeoInsight, Inc., was designated to direct cleanup operations with oversight by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and United States Coast Guard in September 2003, when the Buzzards Bay Unified Command transitioned from the emergency response effort phase to a longer-term remediation effort under the oversight of DEP. The cleanup effort continues. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), in consultation with Department of Public Health (DPH), reopened 27,500 acres of beds on November 12, 2003. This re-opening allowed shellfish diggers to utilize productive flats off Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, Wareham, Bourne, and Falmouth

Buzzards Bay Case Remanded for Further Proceedings

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit remanded the Buzzards Bay case for further proceedings. Following an oil spill in Buzzards Bay in 2003, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts enacted a law imposing various operational and financial responsibility requirements on tank vessels operating in state waters. The federal government and various maritime industry representatives sought to overturn the state law, arguing that it was (in large part) preempted by federal law

Legal Matters

Massachusetts Modifies Application for No-Discharge Zone The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has modified the scope of an application for the designation of a "no-discharge zone." In 1998, the EOEA submitted a proposal to the EPA for a "no-discharge" designation encompassing all coastal waters within the jurisdiction of the state. In 1999, the application was withdrawn due to the substantial costs associated with providing the requisite

Towing Company to Pay $10M for Spill

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued a Press Release stating the Bouchard Transportation Co. was sentenced to pay a $10 million fine in connection with the oil spill in Buzzards Bay on April 27, 2003. A loaded tank barge being towed by a company tug grounded while outside the channel. The tug and barge were outside the channel because the mate on duty had left the pilothouse unmanned. The company was aware of repeated concerns raised about the mate’s

Pollution Bill on the Governor's Desk

As previously reported, as a result of the May 2003 oil spill in Buzzards Bay in the U.S. (an oil barge grounding spilled 55,000 gallons of fuel oil, polluting 93 miles of the Massachusetts coastline), the Massachusetts legislators have introduced new legislation, which was adopted last week by both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. The bill was now been submitted to the Massachusetts Governor for final signature

Northeastern Small Vessel Security Summit

The Coast Guard will host the Northeastern Small Vessel Security Summit June 7, from 9 a.m., until 4 p.m., at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass. The conference is free and open to all small vessel stakeholders. The goal of the forum is to allow attendees to discuss how to reduce risks and threats to smaller vessels on the water and to communicate security concerns in ports and along waterways of the northeast.

Fishing Vessel Salvaged by Donjon Marine

Donjon Marine successfully delivered F/V Cape Fear, a 112 ft. clam dredging vessel, to its owners in New Bedford, Mass. F/V Cape Fear sank in 78 ft. of water while returning from a routine fishing trip south of Martha's Vineyard. When the vessel sank, it rolled over and came to rest on the port side, nearly inverted, on a muddy bottom. Donjon Marine was hired to raise Cape Fear and deliver it to its owners in a safely afloat condition, using crane barges Chesapeake 1000 and Farrell 256

Tug Runs Aground - Buzzards Bay

U.S. Coast Guard crews helped a Boston-based tug crew on Nov. 9 after they grounded their vessel near Buzzards Bay, Mass., around 1 p.m. No injuries were reported of the three crewmembers aboard the tug Southern Cross. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a radio call from the tug reporting that the engine room was flooding and could not be controlled. The crew said they planned to beach the vessel to keep it from sinking.

Jensen Designing Tenth McCallister Tugboat

Vessel is third in series and first Tier lll tugboat in the McAllister Fleet Jensen Maritime Consultants, a Crowley Maritime Corporation company, recently began designing a new vessel, the Eric M. McAllister, a 5,150 horsepower, twin Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugboat, for McAllister Towing. This vessel, which will be built by Senesco Marine LLC of North Kingstown, R.I., will be the tenth Jensen-designed and first Tier 3 tugboat in McAllister’s fleet.

US Cape Wind Chooses Cape Cod HQ

Cape Wind announce it will base its operations headquarters on Falmouth Harbor on Cape Cod. Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said, “Cape and Islanders once lit the lamps of the world by harvesting whale oil. Pretty soon, every morning, workers will leave from Falmouth Harbor to harness the inexhaustible power of the wind for a healthier environment, increased energy independence and sustainable economic development.”