Staff report

Clean-up of a marine diesel fuel spill near the Port of Port Arthur was proceeding well Friday, with only a few areas in the water showing oil, local Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Scheaffer said.

The spill, which started late Wednesday, followed an accident involving the Savage Pathfinder, a towing vessel, and the motor vessel Endurance near Dock 4 in the Intracoastal Waterway. In an issued statement, the Coast Guard said Thursday that the leak source was addressed, though some 13,272 gallons of marine diesel fuel was discharged.

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and Texas General Land Office responded to the spill, using containment boom around the vessel, the Coast Guard said. Scheaffer said about 240 gallons of diesel had been recovered and damage was “minimal.”

Scheaffer said traffic was not impeded on the waterway.

A pollution response team was on site, she said.

“We are working with TGLO, the responsible party and all maritime stakeholders to minimize impact as quickly as possible,” Capt. Jackie Twomey said Thursday. She is the federal on scene coordinator and commanding officer of MSU Port Arthur.

The cause of the incident remained under investigation. There were no reported injuries.