Crews recovered about 500 gallons of fuel oil apparently leaking from a sunken tug boat Friday after a sheen had been spotted near the offshore mooring buoy off Barbers Point, and another was reported approximately seven miles south of Honolulu Airport. 

A 95-foot towing vessel sank Thursday with 75,000 gallons of diesel still in its hull near Barbers Point.

An oil sheen was observed by the Coast Guard before nightfall after the tow boat Nalani got into trouble about 2.5 miles west of Barbers Point Harbor. The Nalani sank in approximately 2,200 feet of water.

Coast Guard,  crews are searching the ocean and beaches from Barbers Point to Nanakuli for signs of oil or wildlife affected by a diesel oil spill.

A Clean Islands Council vessel observed a one mile by 50-foot sheen near the offshore mooring buoy off Barbers Point. The fishing vessel Seahawk also reported a red diesel sheen approximately seven miles south of Honolulu Airport to which a Clean Islands Council vessel is responding, according to a press release.

The Coast Guard set up a command center Friday on Sand Island.

Additional overflights are scheduled for Saturday.

The Coast Guard said shorelines don’t appear to be affected by diesel, although the smell of diesel has been reported at White Plains and Nanakuli. Air sampling did not produce levels of concern, the Coast Guard said.

A National Atmospheric Administration patrol boat rescued 9 crew members and the towboat Tiger 7 rescued 2 after the Nalani sank. No injuries were reported.

A Coast Guard vessel took the crew of the sunken tugboat back to Honolulu. All 11 survivors were wearing lifejackets.

The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into the sinking and began interviewing crewmembers.

Officials are asking the public to report signs of oil on beaches or in the water to the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at (808) 842-2600.