LST La Moure County Lavata Bay village of

LST La Moure County

Lavata Bay (village of Cifuncho)

Background • Conducting large scale joint exercise • Grounded on rocks during landing exercise 0530 on 12 September - Lavata Bay • Damaged 18 tanks/areas in forward section of vessel • Carrying diesel, mo-gas and JP 5 in damaged areas (total on board - 530 K gallons) • Initial estimates 40 K gallons of product lost (later revised to 160 K gallons)

NOAA’s Mission • Assist Navy Sup. Salv in determining threat, clean-up/protection strategies and equipment needs – Physical oeanography to calibrate model and assess potential movement of lost product – Shoreline surveys to assess cleanup requirements and protection potential

What We Knew-Oceanography • Model set up with – 1. – 2. – 3. – 4. Humboldt (Peru) current (northward) Shelf Current (southward) Tidal Currents Coastal flow (northward)

What We Learned-Oceanography • Upwelling confirmed (XBT and visual obs) • Tidal Current excursion of < 2 miles, times relative to Taltal reasonable assumption (dye studies at two stages of tide, three overflights mapping oil distribution) • Local influence of winds (observed from both LST La Moure County and the Destroyer Hayler)

What We Provided • Model set-up with hindcast confirmed by Chilean CG/Navy and on-scene obs • Statistical analysis for potential loss over the next two months Click here for hindcast!

What We Knew Resources/Shoreline • Species expected in the area – Shellfish, pinnepeds, birds, and finfish • Shoreline types – Medium to coarse grain sand beaches – Rocky headlands

What We Learned Resources/Shoreline • Fishing village of Cifuncho had ceased fishing in the Bay • Lavata bay rich in intertidal marine life • Shoreline surveys indicated no residual sheen on shorelines outside of immediate impact area - considerable impact in grounding area • Conducted survey of area of concern south of Bay with Chilean contract scientist

Areas surveyed - x’s mark vessel locations

What We Provided • Summary of shoreline surveys • Advice that no shoreline cleanup was recommended • Booming strategies to protect shorelines from further impact in event of catastrophic release

Summary • • Sheens mostly stayed within small bay Acute impacts noted in immediate area Shoreline cleanup not required/feasible Shoreline protection difficult; use openwater protection if possible • Joint work with Chileans fostered credibility • As of Oct. 1 most of oil has been offloaded onto two 136, 000 gallon dracones • Disposal of vessel unknown