By Richard Girard
EAGLE TIMES PUBLISHER
SUNAPEE, NH —The diesel fuel spill that shut down the boat launch and town dock in Sunapee Harbor came from the Lake Queen, a cruise ship that offers a variety of tours on Sunapee Lake. The cause of the spill appears accidental.
While viewing the site on Tuesday, the Eagle Times learned from two separate sources that the spill took place while the Lake Queen cruise ship was being prepared to sail last Saturday night.
It appeared as if diesel fuel was spilling from a vent on the outside of the ship while connected to a service hose, according to one witness who declined to speak with the Eagle Times on the record.
Saying his insurance company was investigating the incident, Tim Fenton of Sunapee Cruises, declined to comment on the information we presented, though he praised the work of the crews that responded to the spill.
“DES was incredible, wonderful and helpful to work with, as was the Sunapee Fire Department and the town,” Fenton said. “Everybody worked with us to get the problem taken care of.”
The Eagle Times noticed oil absorbent pads and barriers were still placed along the headwaters to the Sugar River and that the Lake Queen was still within the “boom area,” with absorbent materials corralled to its starboard side.
Small diesel slicks were still noticeable near The Lake Queen. Three 55-gallon drums filled with soiled absorbent pads were on the dock, as were clear plastic bags filled with diesel-stained pads.
The town’s docks and boat launch reopened on Wednesday, June 14th , completing the full return to normal operation of Sunapee Harbor.
According to information published on the Lake Sunapee Protective Association’s (LSPA) website, the water supply was unaffected by the approximately 70-gallons of diesel that spilled into the lake.
Sunapee Fire Chief John Galloway did not return our calls or emails seeking comment.
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