World War II tugboat leaks oil into Halifax River

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard is assessing an oil leak in the Halifax River near Ormond-by-the-Sea.

The tugboat Tutahaca was reported to be leaking bilge oil into the river on Wednesday, the Coast Guard said.

The spill has been contained, the Coast Guard said, but it's unclear how much oil leaked into the water.

A woman told Channel 9's Mike Springer that she noticed the spill Wednesday.

"It was just after lunch and all of a sudden, our back patio was filled with fumes and I got nauseous and (I) had a headache. My son came running inside and said, 'Mom, you need to come across the street, there is oil everywhere,'" said Janet Nutt.

The World War II tugboat has been sitting in the river for nearly 20 years.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter Thursday to assess the damage and determine the size of the spill in the river.

The Marine Environmental Response and Sea Tow arrived with a tugboat Wednesday night and deployed 600 feet of containment boom and more than 1,500 feet of absorbent boom around the affected area, the Coast Guard said.

The cause of the leak is under investigation.

The Coast Guard told Eyewitness News that they don't believe the spill poses a threat to people, wildlife or the environment.

The WFTV digital staff contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group