The car carrier Istra Ace spilled oil in Cerritos channel near berth 212 at Port of Los Angeles, yesterday evening. The vessel was bunkering oil from the shore, when the oil leak started from open valve. The crew saw the leak and stopped the bunkering operation, ballasting to stop the leak. Unfortunately oil had already spilled into the water. The Los Angeles Fire Department Hazardous Materials and US Coast Guard responded immediately to the scene of the accident and boarded the ship to identify material and to secure the situation. At the scene of the oil leak, equipment and oil booms were used to stop spreading. Water cleaning and oil collection are under way. The car carrier Istra Ace will be detained until further investigation for the root cause of the oil spill.

“A car carrier was being refueled at the location when the barge crew smelled oil”, said Coast Guard Captain Jennifer Williams. “The crew stopped the refueling and inspected the port side of the ship, where they discovered oil leaking from a hatch. The vessel was ballasted to stop the leak, but not before the heavy fuel left a visible sheen on the water”, said she.

While the spills impact on wildlife remains unknown, people who encounter oiled animals are encouraged to call Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877) 823-6926.