U.S. Coast Guard officials deployed material in Lake Michigan to sop of the diesel that was released when the cargo ship Manitowoc reported a hull breach on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Ninth Coast Guard District of the U.S. Coast Guard
Aug. 4 (UPI) — Sheen is still apparent after a vessel spilled diesel in Lake Michigan, though the U.S. Coast Guard said the potential for a major incident was likely averted.
The 600-foot cargo ship Manitowoc reported a breach to its hull on Wednesday, leading to the release of diesel into Lake Michigan near the central part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. The vessel was carrying around 45,000 gallons of diesel, the loose equivalent of 1,400 barrels of oil, though the volume of the release in the water was unclear.
Coast Guard officials said a flyover on Thursday revealed sheen that was around 2 nautical miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide. The closest shoreline was in Michigan a half-mile away from the sheen.
An oil-spill response team is placing sorbent boom in the area to collect the diesel and the ship is no longer releasing material. The Coast Guard nevertheless noted that diesel is a hazardous material and the public should avoid the area and not make any efforts to rescue wildlife that may have been exposed to the contaminants.
“There is no known or expected impact to drinking water at this time,” the Coast Guard said. “The investigation into the cause of the incident is still ongoing.”
The release comes amid concerns over Line 5, a crude oil pipeline that spans the state’s two peninsulas through the Straits of Mackinac. Operator Enbridge is working to shore up the line to support its integrity, though some state residents want it closed down.
The company in 2016 reached a $172 million settlement over the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history. Two sections of its Line 6 network released a combed 26,400 barrels of oil in 2010.
