ABSTRACT

Acropora palmata

(elkhorn coral)

stand. Although the

Fortuna Reefer

was not carrying any cargo at the time of the grounding, some of the approximately 100,000 gallons of fuel oil and 33,000 gallons of marine diesel were removed to prevent a spill and lighten the vessel prior to removal. Steel cables were attached between the stern of the

Fortuna Reefer

and two

tugboats to stabilize and extract the vessel. During removal, the extraction path did not follow the original collision path and the steel cables dragged across the reef surface, further expanding the area of injury.