What Crew Members Say About Global-Gold

In a collaborative effort, the unified command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the responsible party has successfully finalized the cleanup operation of a diesel fuel spill at Pier 1 in the Port of Astoria. This follows an incident involving the 'Global Gold,' a 565-foot bulk carrier flying the Panamanian flag, which spilled approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel into the Columbia River after colliding with the pier on October 1. On October 4, the Incident Management Division from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River oversaw the demobilization of cleanup contractors stationed at Pier 1. All hard containment booms had been removed by the evening of October 3, with absorbent booms taken out the following day. Fortunately, the 'Global Gold' had a soft patch installed on the damaged area of its hull and was not taking on water. Initial assessments indicated that all diesel fuel was either fully recovered or naturally dissipated. While the immediate cleanup has been completed, an investigation related to the incident remains active, and the 'Global Gold' has yet to receive clearance for loading or leaving the pier. The vessel has proposed a repair plan to the Captain of the Port, aiming to conduct necessary repairs right at Pier 1.

In a coordinated effort to address a diesel fuel leak, a unified command has been established comprising the U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the responsible party. This response began following an incident involving the cargo ship 'Global Gold' at Pier 1 in Astoria on October 2, 2015. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria conducted an over-flight at 9 a.m. and confirmed that the spill was effectively contained within the boom encircling the vessel and pier. After securing the leak, the vessel's engineer assessed the ship's tanks, with Coast Guard Incident Management investigators determining a maximum discharge estimate of 1,100 gallons. Earlier in the day, at approximately 12:55 a.m., personnel from the Port of Astoria reported to Coast Guard Sector Columbia River that the 'Global Gold' had collided with Pier 1, resulting in a significant 4-foot by 8-inch gash located about 30 feet from the stern on the port side of the hull. To prevent further environmental impact, Clean Rivers Cooperative was deployed, successfully setting up booms around the vessel and pier by 3:30 a.m. Furthermore, the crew of the 'Global Gold' utilized absorbent pads to treat a small affected area at the end of Pier 1. The vessel was expected to remain at the Port of Astoria to load lumber in the upcoming days; however, operations will be halted until necessary repairs can be conducted. For further details and photos, visit: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2607134/

In a concerning incident early Friday, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Global Gold encountered a mishap in Astoria, Oregon, resulting in the spillage of over 1,100 gallons of diesel fuel. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress signal at approximately 12:55 a.m. indicating that the 565-foot vessel had allided with Pier 1 at the Port of Astoria, sustaining a significant 4-foot by 8-inch gash along the port side towards the stern of the ship. In response to the situation, the Clean Rivers Cooperative was mobilized and arrived by 3:30 a.m., promptly deploying containment boom around the vessel and the pier. The crew onboard also took initial actions by placing oil-absorbent pads on affected land areas near the pier's end. Following the sealing of the leak, a thorough assessment by the vessel’s engineer and Coast Guard personnel confirmed the spillage at approximately 1,100 gallons. A unified command was formed, featuring representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, the Washington State Department of Ecology, alongside the responsible party. A Coast Guard overflight conducted at 9 a.m. validated that the spill remained contained within the boom, preventing further environmental impact. Chief Petty Officer Brad Bennett, a pollution investigator with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, praised the crew's swift actions, stating, "The quick response and notification of proper authorities by the crew of the M/V Global Gold prevented this spill from becoming a much more serious situation." He further noted that the collaborative efforts being made through the unified command are aimed at ensuring a safe and effective response to minimize environmental detriment. While the vessel was set to load lumber in Astoria for upcoming days, it will remain detained in its current location to allow for necessary repairs. The circumstances surrounding the allision, along with the subsequent fuel spill, are currently under investigation.