Oil Load Mysteriously Disappeared from S.S. Montebello Vessel

California's researchers concluded the fact that a vessel which was sunk in World War II doesn't represent a threat for water quality.

Their findings are reassuring especially nowadays, when public opinion has its eye set on the damaging effects generated by the oil spill incident in New Zealand.

Due to such incidents, ecosystems suffer the most. Thousands of birds and other animals lose their lives every year, after they face the consequences of such devastating incidents.

Officials stated that 440-foot S.S. Montebello presents no risks towards the environment, after last week representatives from Department of Fish and Game, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard started conducting an investigation regarding this matter.

It seems that the ship which faced its last days in 1941 was sunk by a Japanese torpedo, while it was carrying 3 million gallons of oil on the Pacific Coast.

Taking into account the significant amount of potential polluter, researchers feared that some of the oil still present on the vessel might put in danger California's Central Coast's entire ecosystem.

Therefore, as a measure of precaution, authorities analyzed information coming from ocean floor sediments, removed from the board of the vessel which has remained buried approximately six miles from Cambia, 900 feet below surface since December 1941.

Even though the oil's disappearance still remains a mystery for scientists, they are certain of the fact that there are no polluters on board that might put the water quality in danger .

Their investigation was supported by the oil industry, which financed the study that apparently has cost approximately $5 million.

NOAA Scientific Support Jordan Stout said he is dealing with "a number of unknowns associated with this release. Therefore, we will probably never know exactly what happened to the oil."

Their final conclusions will be highlighted in a official report which will most likely be released next spring.