Long Beach Port Investigates Oil Leak From Box Ship

PORT of Long Beach repair crews have been patching up a six-inch crack in the hull of a 485-foot containership, the Cap Tapaga, which sprung a fuel leak, spilling an unknown quantity of oil into the harbour.

The fuel leak was first noticed by the ship's captain while the vessel was moored at Pier J marine terminal operated by International Transportation Services.

In a bid to prevent the fuel from dispersing, Long Beach firefighters set up a containment boom to capture the leaking oil. Private crews were also called in to seal the leak and set up a wider containment perimeter within an hour of first reports.

Investigators have been trying to determine how much fuel escaped into the environment, although Coast Guard Captain Paul Wiedenhoeft was said to have described the incident as a minor spill in a Long Beach Press Telegram report.

The California Office of Spill Prevention is also investigating the accident.