Fanta

The first of three barges left Monday morning (Dec. 24,2012) from the Port of Albany, filled with crude oil that was removed from a tanker damaged during its own trip from the port Thursday. It will likely take three barges to carry the 280,000 barrels of oil the tanker was carrying, said Rich Hendrick, the port's general manager. The tanker, the Stena Primorsk, was on its maiden voyage from the Buckeye Partners terminal at the port last week, providing the final link in a supply chain that stretches from the Bakken field in North Dakota to the Irving Oil Co. refinery in St. John, New Brunswick. Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Barge-leaves-with-tanker-s-oil-4143707.php#ixzz2G37Cl4OG

On Dec 22 the "Stena Primorsk" was awaiting to Coast Guard's go-ahead to off load its cargo to a barge or other vessel. The tanker could remain in Albany for a few more days. It is eventually slated to move downriver where it would be repaired in the New York City area. The ship was making its first run on Dec 20, in what is supposed to be a regular route in which it hauls fuel that is brought by train from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota, down the Hudson and to a refinery in St. John, New Brunswick, when it ran into trouble, suffering a hole in its outer hull. Report with photo: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Tanker-awaiting-word-4141831.php#ixzz2FthwS6kw

Coast Guard Sector New York working with the assistance of multiple partner agencies oversaw the safe transit of the "Stena Primorsk" to Buckeye Albany Terminals LLC in Albany, New York, in the evening of Dec 21. Prior to the vessel's transit, a structural examination was conducted to ensure its seaworthiness. The tanker was carrying light crude oil southbound on the Hudson River when it suffered a hull breach. Coast Guard Auxiliary and New York State Police aircrews performed overflights of the Hudson River to confirm there were no reports of pollution. Additionally, no injuries occurred. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. Coast Guard Sector New York had established a safety zone around the vessel between Matthew Point to the north and the northern tip of Rattlesnake Island to the south restricting vessel traffic from transiting in this area until further notice. North and southbound vessel traffic on the Hudson River has since reopened.