VLCC lightering operations in Southern California, in the lee of San Clemente Island, are conducted by Shell Oil Co., Chevron Oil Co., and Coastal States Gas Corp. These companies have submitted operations manuals for lightering and contingency plans for handling emergency situations and oil spills. The Southern California Pollution Contingency Organization, an oil cleanup cooperative based in Long Beach, has been contracted by the lightering companies to respond in the event of an oil spill. Each lightering operation consists of a number of phases and requires expert lightering masters and an experienced crew. Since the first lightering on 7/22/76, U.S. Coast Guard boarding teams from both the Los Angeles Captain of the Port Office and the San Diego Marine Safety Office have boarded and monitored more than 70 lighterings. The safety record has been impressive: there have been no major spills and relatively few deficiencies uncovered during tankship examinations.