Bunker Spill Response Sparks Twitter Backlash

The hashtag #WilmingtonLivesMatter has been developed to raise awareness of adverse affects boaters say they are experiencing from the Istra Ace bunker spill in March.

Recreational boaters at the U.S. Port of Los Angeles have been tweeting with the hashtag #WilmingtonLivesMatter to raise awareness of adverse affects they say they are experiencing as a result of a bunker spill that was linked to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) vessel Istra Ace in March, local media reports.

"There is still oil in the water. Yes the port has been cleaning underneath the big docks with big pressure washers [but] there's oil on the bottoms of three-quarters of the boats," said Morgan E. Griffin, who keeps boat at the Wilmington docks, adding that fumes resulting from the bunker spill have been present in the air.

"We haven't had any elected officials down here at all [but] there have been two gentlemen down here from insurance. They're trying to reach out to the people now."

On March 25, a number of boaters are said to have met in Wilmington to discuss proper handling of cleanup efforts, as well the liabilities of the vessel owner, and the responsibility of civic leaders in addressing concerns raised by the affected boaters.

Some boaters have reported an oil sheen on the water since the spill, while others have noted that their boats have been found covered in oil.

Concerns have also been expressed over how the port deals with spills caused by vessels under foreign flags, and those owned by foreign companies.

"We need to have somebody stand up and say, 'We're not going to take it,'" added Griffin.

"There are rules on the books that say we're a working port. We're functioning human beings with lungs. We need to head out there and nail this now. We have cancer causing stuff in our water."

In March, Ship & Bunker reported that the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) believed the bunker spill from the Istra Ace, may have been caused by faulty piping on board the ship.