LoBiondo asks for ôAthosö explanation
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, opened a hearing Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with pointed questions for the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Cypriot-flagged tanker 'Athos I' struck a submerged metal object Nov. 26 while being guided by tugs to the Citgo oil processing facility in Paulsboro, N.J. The resulting 246,335-gallon oil spill fouled more than 50 miles of the shoreline along the Delaware River.
'I look forward to hearing from witnesses how such a large obstruction came to be located in the middle of a shipping channel that is used by large oil tankers each and every day,' LoBiondo said. 'I also hope witnesses can tell me what efforts will be made to locate and remove or mark any similar obstructions.'