The may have been involved in a second chemical spill within four days.

The Bridgeton News reported that 200 gallons of oily product spilt into Delaware Bay early during the morning of April 25. Clean up crews descended on the scene immediately and the owners of the Netherlands-registered container vessel have pledged to finance the recovery and clean-up work, but have not admitted to causing the spill.

An ongoing investigation into the source of the spill determined that the was a ?vessel of interest?. Oil samples, including one from the vessel, have been gathered throughout the investigation and are currently being tested to determine the source of the spill.

The owners have also hired a crisis management firm, MIT Network, which specialises in maritime public relations. A spokesman, Mike Hanson, from the firm explained why the owners have accepted financial responsibility for the spill before the test results have been released. ?Because it was good corporate citizenship,? he said. ?At the end of the day, they felt it was the proper thing to do ... they couldn?t be absolutely sure it wasn?t them.?

The Bridgeton News also reported that 7,400 acres of New Jersey?s oyster beds have been closed as a result of the spill.

Four days before the oil spill off of Delaware the had a sulphuric acid scare while docked in Bermuda. Firefighters rushed to the scene and raced to contain the substance. Lt. Wenda Godfrey, of the Bermuda Fire Service, said it appeared that one of six sulphuric acid tubs stored on a palette on the Islander had slipped off and leaked. The palette was removed from the Islander once it arrived in Hamilton. Some of the sulphuric acid still in the leaking drum appeared to spill on the docks before fire-fighters covered the affected area with sand.

Maurice Brimmer, superintendent at Hamilton docks, said staff were aware of the spill as soon as the boat berthed, carrying a total of 123 containers.

?We were alerted by the personnel on the boat,? added Mr. Brimmer, who said he was not certain how the chemical spilled on the deck, although a hole in the drum may have been behind the leak.?

Attempts to reach Lt. Godfrey were unsuccessful. The frequents the Hamilton docks regularly.