Coast Guard informs completion of bulk diesel fuel removal from grounded vessel as interagency planning efforts for vessel removal continue

The Coast Guard announced that bulk fuel removal operations for the grounded sailing vessel Obsession just off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico were completed, Wednesday afternoon, by Resolve Marine and Clean Harbors, LLC crews.   The bulk diesel fuel removal consisted of the estimated 800 to 1,500 gallons of diesel aboard the four fuel tanks and day tank onboard the vessel.  Final removal amounts will be updated when available.   Throughout the response, personnel from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and NOAA conducted preliminary underwater assessments to determine the impacts on the reef caused by the vessel grounding. Thus far, they have been able to recover and safeguard various species of live corals that will be used to rehabilitate the impacted area.