Americas News
Diesel Spill After Tug Boat Sinks
A tug boat containing as much as 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel sank in an embankment of the Tennessee River, U.S., Monday, and most of the fuel ended up in the water, according to local news reports of the incident.
Officials said the tug boat, owned by New Johnsonville Marine Service, was discovered partially sunk in a public fleeting area around 6:30 a.m. Monday.
The spill area, about 300 yards by 300 yards, was said to have been contained by booms around 11 a.m. and a drum skimmer was brought in to suck the oil up out of the water.
As of Tuesday the Humphreys County Sheriff's Department said that most of the fuel on the water has been removed, shoreline clean up was under way, and skimming operations were ongoing, News Channel 5 reports.
It was thought the spilled fuel did not enter the main river course, and the belief was that there will be minimal impact to the environment.
Officials were said to be still working to determine what caused the tug boat to sink.
