Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announces that Maine Responder to help with clean up effort of oil spill in Gulf of Mexico

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the Portland-based Maine Responder, a 208-foot long oil recovery ship, is headed to the Gulf of Mexico to help with efforts to contain the massive oil spill there. As of 5:00 this afternoon, the ship was off the east end of Long Island, NY.  (The vessels current location can be found here: http://bit.ly/dAT7t0 )
 
“We are proud that the Maine-based crew of this ship can help with efforts to tackle the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico,” Pingree said.  “The economic and environmental damage that people in that region face is almost unimaginable.”
 
Pingree said officials have assured her that there are adequate resources still in the area to respond to an accident here.
 
“Several other oil spill recovery vessels will remain in Portland Harbor and larger vessels remains within striking distance,” Pingree said. 
 
The Maine Responder is owned by the Marine Spill Response Corporation, a non-profit organization set up by the oil industry. The company was set up in response to major legislation that Congress passed after the Exxon Valdez spill.