Inter-Agency Partners Begin Oil Spill Clean up Efforts
An unidentified source of heavy oil washed up on the shore Tuesday between Shark River Inlet, Monmouth County, and Seaside Heights, Ocean County, prompting the Coast Guard and other federal, state and local officials to begin clean-up efforts. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia along with the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team, N.J. Department of Environmental protection, Bradley, Neptune, Asbury Park and Avon Offices of Emergency Response, New Jersey State Police, Tri-State Bird Rescue, and numerous other groups are currently responding to the spill that spans the 12-mile stretch of shoreline. The spill was reported Tuesday afternoon by New Jersey State Police.
Engine Room Explosion on Tug
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – One man was airlifted this afternoon after an engine room explosion on board a tug. The man was airlifted by a Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City and taken to Saint Barnabas Hospitals burn unit in Livingston, N.J. The tug, Robert J. Bouchard, was towing an empty oil barge 9-miles off of Seaside Heights, N.J., when the explosion occurred. Coast Guard received the call from crewmembers using the tugs marine radio at 12:03 p.m. The remaining five people on board were removed from the tug with out incident. Three of the crewmembers were taken back to Coast Guard Station Manasquan while the other two remained on board a New Jersey State Police boat.
