WWII-era ship leaks fuel into San Francisco Bay at Fishermans Wharf

Crews from multiple agencies were cleaning up the San Francisco Bay on Sunday morning after fuel leaked from a World War II-era ship docked near Pier 45 at Fishermans Wharf, Coast Guard officials said.

Just before 11 a.m. Saturday, an undetermined amount of fuel spilled into the water from the Jeremiah OBrien, a World War II Liberty Ship, said Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Jacob Aulner.

By the afternoon, a 100-by-150-yard sheen was spotted by Coast Guard officials surveying the scene in a helicopter, Aulner said.

The source of the spill, which was first thought to be from an internal fuel transfer, was secured, Aulner said. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the leak.

Cleanup crews put out 5,000 feet of containment boom around the vessel before skimming and using absorbent pads to clean up the fuel. Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials are assessing any possible environmental impacts, Aulner said.

By Sunday morning, the sheen was no longer visible.

Everything is improving, Aulner said. Over time, with the tides and currents shifting, the fuel is dissipated into the atmosphere.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky

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WWII-era ship leaks fuel into San Francisco Bay at Fishermans Wharf

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