Cargo ship identified as source of oil spill

The Coast Guard announced Tuesday that the source of an oil spill that deposited black globs of oil on 60 miles of area shoreline last month was the John F, a 600-foot cargo vessel.

The spill was first noticed Oct. 20 when oil slicks were spotted in the harbor and barrier-island residents began complaining about the black deposits on the beaches.

Deposits were found on the beaches at Sullivan's Island, Fort Sumter, Folly Beach and Kiawah, Seabrook and Edisto islands.

It took 10 days for more than 50 people from Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the S.C. departments of Health and Environmental Control and Natural Resources, and contractors from Moran Environmental Services to clean up the mess.

Workers removed more than 2,600 bags filled with oily debris and sand for a total effort of more than 550 man-hours at a cost of approximately $330,000, the Coast Guard said.

The cost was paid by the Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center's oil spill liability trust fund. There was no evidence of direct impact to wildlife or fisheries.

The Coast Guard sent samples of the oily deposits to a forensic laboratory for analysis. Results of those tests, coupled with witness accounts, led Coast Guard investigators to conclude that the John F was responsible, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

The John F's owner was formally notified by the National Pollution Fund Center on Thursday of possible liability for this incident, the release said.

The master of the John F had reported a 10-gallon oil spill to the National Response Center Oct. 19. That spill occurred during a transfer of heavy bunker fuel from a barge to the ship at the anchorage off Crab Bank in Charleston Harbor.

The John F's owners hired a local response contractor to clean up oil spilled on the ship's decks and hull. According to reports from witnesses, when the contractor arrived at the John F, there was no oil seen in the water.

The wide area that was impacted by the tar balls was consistent with a spill of up to a few hundred gallons, the release said.