ROCKLAND — Rockland Fire Department helped to clean up a fuel spill on Rockland Harbor this morning, just after 8 a.m. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection also responded, as required.

The spill occurred when a boat owner began testing systems on his motor boat that was on stands at Journey’s End marina. One of the fuel tanks had sprung a leak, and fuel ran from that, onto the pavement, and into a nearby storm drain that empties into the water.

When the fire department arrived, crews at the boatyard had already strung absorbent pads in the harbor. 

“We did some defensive measures, and deployed an absorbent boom across a small cove,” said Asst. Chief Mikial Mazzeo. 

There wasn’t a lot of discharge and the pads did their job, he said.