Bow Mariner oil skimming successful

Oil skimming was suspended this weekend as bad weather moved toward the site where the tanker T/V BOW MARINER exploded and sank off the Virginia coast Saturday night. Helicopter over-flights showed the oil was mostly in thin sheens on the water, strung out in long streamers, and widely separated, limiting the amount the skimming vessel, the VIRGINIA RESPONDER, was able to recover. The sixth and final member of the crew was released from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. All of the survivors have had an opportunity to meet with diplomatic officials from their native Philippine Islands, and have had an opportunity to call their families. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel RUDE made a second attempt to obtain images of the sunken vessel with its side-scan sonar. The first attempt did not produce clear images because of high waves on the surface. Yesterday’s work was more successful, providing a better understanding of the condition of the sunken vessel, which will help with the next step, removal of the fuel oil still on board. SMIT Salvage Americas, Inc., has been added to the response team as the primary contractor for removing remaining potential pollutants from the tanks. The first step in that process will be to send down a Remotely Operated Vessel (ROV) for a more detailed examination of the sunken vessel, which is expected to occur next week.