Containership with Cracked Hull Leaking Fuel Oil in Bayonne, NJ

A containership with a visible crack in its hull is leaking fuel oil at the Global Container Terminal in Bayonne, N.J., the U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday.

A unified command team consisting of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Gallagher Marine Systems is responding after the National Response Center contacted Coast Guard Sector New York watchstanders, Monday, reporting a sheen near the Liberian-flagged vessel YM Mandate.

A nearby Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) New York boat crew reported a small crack in the ship’s hull which was leaking fuel oil. Coast Guard investigators confirmed the leak.

The 300 meter long, 6,572 TEU capacity YM Mandate activated its Coast Guard-approved vessel response plan by making notifications and activating response resources.  

The amount of fuel oil spilled is unknown, but all product is currently contained within the boom, absorbent pads and skimmer system deployed around the 2010-built box ship, the Coast Guard said.

Contracted skimming vessels are working to remove oil from the water while fuel oil is being transferred internally from the affected tank, which has 462,297 gallon capacity.