San Diego
About 450 gallons of lubricating oil spilled from the U.S. aircraft carrier Independence on Sunday, according to a North Island Naval Air Station spokesman.
The accident occurred about 11 a.m. at the North Island carrier pier in San Diego Harbor, said Ken Mitchell, public affairs officer for the station, which conducted the spill cleanup. The aircraft carrier is attached to the U.S. Pacific fleet.
All but a small amount of the light-grade oil was contained in the protective booms that surround the ship while it is anchored, Mitchell said. The wake from pleasure boats washed some oil over the booms.
Using water-skimming equipment, the Navy’s oil recovery team had cleaned up the spill outside of the booms by 5 p.m., he said. The entire cleanup was expected to be completed Sunday evening.
None of the oil came ashore, Mitchell said. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
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