Fuel Spills in the Panama Canal

The South Korean Hanjin Monaco vessel suffered damages to its fuel tank while transiting the Pedro Miguel locks Monday night, releasing 35 barrels of bunker fuel into the Panama Canal waters.

Canal workers began clean-up and towed the boat for repair, resulting in waterway traffic.

Incidentally, the Panama Canal Authority  published a notice of the Panama Canal Ship Oil Pollution Emergency Plan yesterday, presenting the requirements and regulations of the PCSOPEP, which became effective 1 January 2005.  Under the plan, vessels present a plan for Canal waters and pay tariffs for the availability of personnel and equipment for oil spill response. In turn, the ACP acts as the sole Oil Spill Response Organization for vessels in transit or awaiting transit of the Panama Canal.

Bird after 2002 Prestige spill off of Spanish Coast / PHOTO Denis Doyle / AP file