Cracked Containership Leaking Oil at Bayonne, New Jersey Terminal

FILE PHOTO: YM Mandate. Photo: MarineTraffic.com

A containership docked at a container terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey is leaking fuel from a small crack in the ship’s hull, the U.S. Coast Guard reported Wednesday.

The M/V YM Mandate is docked at the Global Container Terminal at the Port of New York and New Jersey. According to a U.S. Coast Guard statement on the incident, the National Response Center contacted Coast Guard Sector New York watchstanders on Monday reporting a sheen near the vessel.

An inspection of the vessel by a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) boat crew identified a small crack in the ship’s hull which was leaking fuel oil. Coast Guard investigators have since confirmed the leak.

The impacted tank is reported to have a capacity of 462,297 gallons. At this point, it is unclear exactly how much fuel has leaked from the vessel.

Oil containment boom and absorbent pads have been deployed around the YM Mandate and contracted skimming vessels have been working to remove oil from the water. The Coast Guard said all leaking product is contained within the boom and skimmer system, while internal transfer of fuel oil from the affected tank is also being conducted.

A unified command consisting of the Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Gallagher Marine Systems has now been setup to coordinate the response to the incident.

GCT Bayonne is located outside the Bayonne Bridge near the New York/New Jersey harbor entrance, providing unrestricted air and water draft for vessel calling at the terminal. The terminal is equipped with eight post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes.

The 2010-built YM Mandate is registered in Liberia and has a carrying capacity of 6,572 TEU. AIS ship tracking data shows the vessel arrived on Monday from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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