A guided missile cruiser spilled approximately 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the York River last Thursday, the U.S. Navy has confirmed.

The cruiser, the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), reported the spill at 7 a.m. May 7 while pier side at Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, according to Ted Brown, a U.S. Fleet Forces Command Environmental Public Affairs Officer.

Brown said containment booms were in place at the time of the incident and the majority of the spill was contained within the pre-positioned boom and under the pier. He said recovery and cleanup efforts began immediately.

On-scene response officials recovered fuel by Thursday afternoon using a fuel vacuum truck and fuel-absorbing materials in an effort led by the Navy Oil Recovery team and the ship’s force, he said. Absorbent materials were left in place overnight to soak up residual fuel and were retrieved Friday morning.

Brown said the remaining sheen was unrecoverable and dissipated with minimal impact to the shore...