Active Fuel Spill Cleanup Completed

Active cleanup operations for a fuel spill in Cape May, have been completed. The Coast Guard, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Cape May County Health Department responded to a fuel spill in Cape May, N.J., late last night. The Coast Guard was notified that the Stemac, a 91-foot motor yacht from Key Largo, Fla., had discharged fuel overboard at the South Jersey Marina in Cape May, N.J. An estimated 600 gallons of fuel was displaced out of the vessel's fuel tank. The cause of the spill is currently under investigation by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard along with Northstar Marine, who was contracted by the owner of the Stemac for recovery and clean up of the spill, rapidly deployed 1,500 feet of containment boom in Schellenger Landing and the Cape May Canal to help stop the spill from spreading. Vessel traffic was restricted last night from moving in or out of the marina. Vessel traffic restrictions were lifted by daybreak. There have been no reports of oiled wildlife or other environmental damage from this spill. Crews from Northstar Marine used absorbent padding to soak up fuel from the surface of the water in the marina where the fuel collected in pockets and to wipe down any other contiminated vessels. In addition to the Coast Guard, the NJDEP and the Cape May County Health Department, the Cape May Fire Department, the Town Bank Fire Department, the Erma Fire Department, the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Fire Department and the New Jersey State Police also responded to the scene.