Aerial inspection shows no signs of offshore oil
No oil sheen was observed in waters along the Leeward Coast yesterday as Tesoro Hawaii did another two-hour flyover looking for any signs of contamination after a spill Friday.
Tesoro spokesman Nathan Hokama said a helicopter flyover started at 8 a.m. Tesoro was accompanied by an official with the state Department of Health. The helicopter flew over Tesoro's Single Point Mooring, where 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of light crude oil was spilled.
Oil was being transferred from the vessel Front Sunda through the mooring site located about 1.5 miles off Barbers Point to the refinery on shore when one of the couplings of a hose line separated from the ship.
Hokama had said that the combination of winds, sea currents and sun helped to dissipate the oil.
Yesterday's flyover continued 31 miles southwest of Barbers Point where the direction of the oil sheen was projected to travel. The helicopter, flying at an altitude of 500 feet, surveyed waters along the Leeward Coast up to Kaena Point.
Hokama said there was no oil sheen observed at the mooring site or along the Leeward Coast.
The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation. Also, an inspection was to be conducted last night to make sure equipment is working properly, said spokeswoman Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson. Tesoro Hawaii is expected to resume transfer operations once the Coast Guard is done with the assessment and gives its approval, Hokama said.