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Orange County News

16 Nov 2023

Energy Transfer, TotalEnergies Pen Deal for Crude Oil Offtake from Blue Marlin Offshore Port

Blue Marlin Offshore Port Project Map - Credit: MARAD

Energy Transfer LP has entered into a non-binding Heads of Agreement (HOA) with TotalEnergies related to term crude oil offtake from its proposed Blue Marlin Offshore Port for 4 million barrels per month. The HOA is subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and the satisfaction of other conditions, including Energy Transfer taking a final investment decision on the project, expected to be developed in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Cameron Parish, Louisiana…

12 Sep 2022

Amplify Energy to Pay $5M to Settle Criminal Charges over California Oil Spill

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Oct. 3, 2021. U.S. Coast Guard photo (Cropped)

California officials [last] Thursday said Amplify Energy Corp agreed to plead no contest to six criminal charges and pay nearly $5 million in penalties and fines in connection with a crude oil spill last year that killed birds and fouled beaches.The announcement was the latest legal effort to hold the Texas-based oil company accountable for a subsea pipeline leak that released some 558 barrels (25,000 gallons) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Huntington Beach in southern California in October of last year.At a news conference broadcast live on the internet…

18 Oct 2021

U.S. Coast Guard Boards Containership in Connection to California Pipeline Oil Spill

The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a container ship on Saturday in the Port of Long Beach that dragged its anchor close to a subsea pipeline found to be the source of an oil spill off Orange County, California, it said in a press release.The spill released some 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife, blackening the coastline and forcing officials to close beaches south of Los Angeles.In its statement, the Coast Guard said an investigation had determined that the MSC DANIT was involved in the anchor-dragging incident "during a heavy weather event" that impacted Long Beach and Los Angeles ports in January.As a result…

11 Oct 2021

Southern California: Beaches to Reopen After Offshore Oil Spill

Shoreline crews conduct cleanup operations on Huntington Beach, Calif., Oct. 4, 2021.   - Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Brahm 
U.S. Coast Guard District 11 PADET Los Angeles

Beaches in a southern California city that were shut because of an oil spill last week are set to reopen on Monday morning, authorities said in a statement.City and state beaches of Huntington Beach city will reopen as water quality testing showed no detectable amounts of oil associated toxins in ocean water, officials from the city and California State Parks said.Last week, some 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife, soiling the coastline and forcing officials to close beaches in the cities of Huntington Beach…

06 Oct 2021

California Lawmakers Look to Ban Offshore Drilling after Spill

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Oct. 3, 2021. / Official U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Democratic members of Congress from California seized on the oil spill off the state's coast to promote federal legislation to ban all offshore oil drilling, as investigators searched for what caused the pipeline to burst.About 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife, soiling the coastline, and forcing officials to close beaches in several cities in Orange County, just south of Los Angeles. The spill follows dozens of incidents in the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricane Ida, which slammed into the U.S.

06 Oct 2021

Pipeline from California Offshore Oil Spill was Moved 32 Meters Along Sea Floor

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Oct. 3, 2021.



A unified command has been established to respond to and clean up the oil spill off the California coast.

Official U.S. Coast Guard photo.

A section of the oil pipeline that burst off the Southern California coast was displaced 105 feet (32 meters) across the ocean floor, officials said on Tuesday, fueling speculation that a ship's anchor may have caused the environmental disaster.The revelation came as the U.S. Coast Guard and drilling company Amplify Energy Corp came under further scrutiny about the time it took to respond to the spill, amid reports that mariners first reported seeing oil in the water on Friday night…

05 Oct 2021

Why Is It So Hard to Clean Up An Offshore Oil Spill?

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Calif., on October 3, 2021. (Photo: Richard Brahm / U.S. Coast Guard)

Oil spills into ocean waters, subject to winds and tides and spreading swiftly over wide areas, are difficult to clean up.The 3,000-barrel weekend spill off the coast of southern California is nowhere near as disastrous as mega-spills like the Deepwater Horizon explosion that sent millions of barrels of oil into U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But swift movement of the liquids can kill wildlife and foul beaches before cleanup teams are deployed. Federal and state responders begin fighting oil spills by deploying diving teams…

05 Oct 2021

Anchor Strike May Have Caused California Oil Spill

(Photo: USCG)

More oil from a massive offshore spill landed on the southern California shore on Monday, with beaches closed and dead fish and birds washing up on shore as officials investigated whether a ship anchor striking a pipeline could have triggered the leak.Crews dressed in white coveralls and helmets raced against an approaching storm as they cleaned damage from 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of oil that spilled into the Pacific Ocean in recent days from a pipeline connected to an…

04 Oct 2021

'Catastrophic' California Offshore Oil Spill Kills Fish, Damages Wetlands

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Oct. 3, 2021.

A unified command has been established to respond to and clean up the oil spill off the California coast.

Official U.S. Coast Guard photo.

A large oil spill off the southern California coast left fish dead, birds mired in petroleum and wetlands contaminated, prompting local officials to call it an environmental catastrophe.The U.S. Coast Guard, heading a clean-up response involving federal, state, and city agencies, said on Sunday there was an around-the-clock investigation into how the spill occurred.An estimated 126,000 gallons, or 3,000 barrels, had spread into an oil slick covering about 13 square miles of the Pacific Ocean since it was first reported on Saturday morning…

15 Jan 2016

Oceanside Police Orders Crystaliner from Willard Marine

Willard Marine, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of mission-proven boats, has received an order to produce a 33-foot, fiberglass harbor patrol boat for the Oceanside Police Department in California based on the iconic “Crystaliner” boat design. The order from Oceanside Police Department marks the first Crystaliner to be purchased from Willard Marine since they acquired the licensing and manufacture rights from Crystaliner, which folded in 2012. Willard’s more contemporary Crystaliner design includes new electronic systems, upgraded hull construction and powerful firefighting features. With a length of 33 feet and beam over 10 feet, its large open deck space is ideal for search and rescue missions, law enforcement safety and firefighting operations.

01 Oct 2015

Port of LA: 10 Years of Clean Air Gains

Findings from its 10th consecutive year of tracking air pollution show the Port of Los Angeles has set new records for cutting harmful emissions from port-related sources, with diesel particulate matter (DPM) down an unprecedented 85 percent and sulfur oxides (SOx) bordering on total elimination, having plummeted 97 percent since 2005. The data also shows the Port has surpassed its 2014 emission reduction goals set in 2010 for DPM, SOx and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Released today, the Port’s 2014 Inventory of Air Emissions reports NOx emissions are down 52 percent. The percentage fell slightly from the Port’s best year for NOx reduction – 57 percent in 2013 – largely due to congestion experienced at all West Coast ports during fall 2014.

28 Sep 2015

Calif. Forum Examines Transport ‘Beyond Traffic’

Paul “Chip” Jaenichen (Photo: MARAD)

U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen and Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal today hosted the third of 11 nationwide regional forums on the Beyond Traffic draft framework at Long Beach Convention Center. The Beyond Traffic report examines the trends and choices facing America’s transportation infrastructure over the next three decades, including a rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas and a transportation system facing more frequent extreme weather events.

24 May 2015

Sea Urchin Haven Disturbed by Oil Spill

Stephanie Mutz makes a living plucking sea urchins from the Santa Barbara coast and selling the prickly treasure to upscale restaurants in Southern California. Now, she needs new hunting grounds. The coast, thought to be one of the world's best places for harvesting sea urchins, suffered its worst oil spill in 46 years this week, forcing authorities to ban fishing in an area 23 miles (37 km) long by seven miles (11 km) wide. "That was one of my predominant fishing spots, so I just have to think of a Plan B," said Mutz, who supplies restaurants from Santa Barbara to Orange County, including the Michelin-starred Providence in Los Angeles.

13 Dec 2014

Pacific Storm Triggers Tornado, Mudslides, Floods in Southern California

A Pacific storm pounded Southern California with heavy rain and high winds on Friday, triggering a small tornado, flash floods and mudslides that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes, damaged dozens of others and disrupted passenger rail services along the coast. One person was found dead on Friday in a rain-swollen flood-control channel in the Orange County town of Garden Grove, which could mark the third storm-related fatality on the West Coast since Thursday. Separately, rescue teams saved two people after they were swept away in the fast-moving Los Angeles River near a homeless encampment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in Twitter messages.

03 Nov 2014

Emissions Reductions Persist at Port of LA

Photo: The Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles continues to make strides in cutting pollution from ships, trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment and harbor craft, according to the latest annual inventory of emissions from port-related mobile sources. The Port’s 2013 Inventory of Air Emissions shows the Port has set new records with diesel particulate matter (DPM) down 80 percent, nitrogen oxides (NOx) down 57 percent and sulfur oxides (SOx) down 90 percent over eight years of aggressive clean air measures.

10 Oct 2014

Paul N. Jaenichen - Maritime Administrator, United States Maritime Administration

Paul “Chip” Jaenichen was appointed by President Obama and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on July 25, 2014. Before his appointment, Administrator Jaenichen served as Acting Administrator beginning in June 2013. He joined the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration in July 2012 when he was appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator. A career naval officer, retiring in 2012 after serving 30 years as nuclear trained Submarine Officer in the U.S. Navy, Jaenichen’s…

13 Aug 2014

NOAA: Marine Debris Costs California Millions

Marine debris found on Seal Beach, Orange County, California. (Credit:NOAA)

Southern California residents lose millions of dollars each year avoiding littered, local beaches in favor of choosing cleaner beaches that are farther away and may cost more to reach, according to a new NOAA-funded Marine Debris Program economics study. Reducing marine debris even by 25 percent at beaches in and near California’s Orange County could save residents roughly $32 million during three months in the summer by not having to travel longer distances to other beaches.

06 Aug 2014

Siemens to Bring eHighway Demonstration to California

Contract signed with South Coast Air Quality Management District inCalifornia to install and demonstrate Siemens eHighway system near Portsof Los Angeles and Long Beach. Electrified catenary system offers economically attractive and environmentally friendly solution to transport goods on highly frequentedroutes near the two largest Ports in the U.S. Siemens has been selected by the South Coast Air Quality Management District(SCAQMD) to install an eHighway system in the proximity of the Ports of LosAngeles and Long Beach, the two largest ports in the U.S.

25 Mar 2013

Adances in Marine Coatings & Corrosion Control

The advance of modern marine coatings and related technologies is not unlike other technical sectors of the maritime industry, primarily driven by emerging regulation from the international, national and regional level, usually in regard to environmental concern. But in recent years, an increased focus on the reduction of marine emissions in tandem with the capability to more directly correlate clean, well-maintained hulls with reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions has driven the industry further faster…

08 Jul 2013

Port of Long Beach Appoint Michael Gold Director of Communications

Michael Gold: Photo credit Port of Long Beach

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has selected Michael Gold as Director of Communications & Community Relations for the Port of Long Beach, beginning in mid-July. The Board voted Gold to the post at their July 1 meeting, following a six-month search to replace Heather Morris, who retired after heading the department for more than eight years. Gold has been working in the public affairs and legislative fields for more than 16 years. Prior to joining the Port of Long Beach…

04 Apr 2012

Port Fire Protection – California Corp Gets Hydrant Order

Fire Protection Group, Inc. An ongoing fire protection systems project near the docks of San Pedro is making few headlines, as Fire Protection Group, Inc. have made it their top priority to ensure code compliance and safety, and at the same time put Los Angeles's fire authorities at ease. Installation can mean inconvenience and unwanted expense for a business when repairs or installation must be performed in a location where important commercial transport goes on. In this case, however, the movement of traffic to San Pedro Harbor not only for pedestrians and autos, but also, passengers' access to the ferries has not been impeded say the company. Fire Protection Group, Inc. is expert on regulation #4, NFPA, and Title 19-related issues, as well as fire sprinkler systems.

24 Jan 2014

Weinberg Reelected Canaveral Board Chairman

Tom Weinberg

Thomas "Tom" Weinberg will serve a second consecutive term as Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board, accepting the job after an unanimous vote during the January Commission meeting. A fourth-generation Brevard County, Florida resident elected from District 5, Weinberg begin his Board tenure in January 2011. He is a licensed realtor who has held several local, state and federal positions, including Chief of Staff for former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and Deputy County Administrator for Orange County, Florida government.

15 Mar 2010

Hearings Adjourn in Port Arthur

Photo courtesy USCG

The Coast Guard adjourned the formal hearings, Thursday, March 11, concerning the Jan. 23, 2010, incident involving the tank vessel Eagle Otome, the Gull Arrow and the tug Dixie Vengeance. The incident resulted in more than 400,000 gallons of oil being spilled into the Sabine-Neches waterway. Eric Lewis, the VTS watchstander, testified concerning his training, maritime experience, and the details of the displays and sensors he monitors as a watchstander. He also described his watch and the geographic area of the waterway he monitors.