Fuel Spill Closes Marina Boat Launch Ramp

By City News Service

A fuel leak from a privately owned vessel today forced the closure of the Marina del Rey Boat launch ramp, a sheriff's deputy said.

Authorities were notified of the leak at 13465 Fiji Way at 8:08 a.m., said Deputy Bryan White of the sheriff's Marina del Rey station's Marina Operations.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and a private contractor were conducting the clean up operation, which was expected to be completed at approximately 1 p.m., White said.

The deputy said investigators from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Sheriff's Department were in the process of determining what caused the fuel to leak from the privately owned vessel. If it is negligence the owner of the vessel can possibly be cited, according to federal and county codes, he said. If it is not negligence, the owner of the vessel may have to pay for the cost of the clean up, White said, which could be "north of five thousand dollars."