A concerned Westsider called the Kaua‘i Fire Department to report a suspected oil spill at Port Allen Harbor Monday evening after smelling diesel fuel and seeing what was later described by bystanders as a sheen across the water at the
A concerned Westsider called the Kaua‘i Fire Department to report a suspected oil spill at Port Allen Harbor Monday evening after smelling diesel fuel and seeing what was later described by bystanders as a sheen across the water at the end of the pier.
It was confirmed that a Chevron fuel tanker was in the area pumping fuel up to the storage tanks, and left at about 4 p.m., which is about the time the report was made.
The KFD’s hazardous materials team checked out the scene, but soon returned to Lihu‘e. No large sheen of oil was on the water by 6:30 p.m. A harbor security officer confirmed that the tanker was in the harbor but was not aware of a major incident.
As tour boats returned to Port Allen just after sunset, an officer of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement made a sweep of the area on a rigid-hull boat. He circled the end of the pier and returned after 7 p.m.
