New York: The US Coast Guard has figured out that the World War II-era shipwreck off Long Island is leaking oil through two pinpoint leaks.
The ship named Coimbra owned by Great Britain during World War II used to supply oil. After being shot by two torpedoes the ship sank 180 feet deep and 36 crew members lost their lives.
Later in 2015, the coast guards received satellite reports from the wreck site.
The Day of New London reports that the coast guard has contracted with the Resolve Marine Group to conduct an assessment of the remaining oil aboard the British tanker Coimbra, which sits in 185 feet of water about 30 miles southeast of Shinnecock, New York.
The coast guard says crews were able to cut away part of the shipwreck's hull on Thursday and bring samples of the oil back to the surface.
However, the crew was planning to remove the oil from the ship. Coast Guard Capt. Kevin Reed says the goal is to "reduce any potential threat to the environment."
The Coimbra was en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Bayonne, New Jersey when it was torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat in January 1942. It was carrying about 2.7 million gallons of lubricating oil.
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