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The client was Eklof Marine, the owner of the tug and barge that went aground last Friday on Moonstone Beach. Eklof is also one of four partners in a joint venture that makes up the Donjon consortium, based in Hillside, N.J.

Eklof, based in Staten Island, N.Y., has been a shipping leader in the Northeast for decades. Its partners in the consortium are Donjon Marine Co. Inc. of New Jersey, a well-known salvage operator, and two companies that specialize in spill cleanup: Garner Environmental Services Inc. of Texas and Clean Venture Inc. of New Jersey.

Theoretically, as a partner in the consortium, Eklof will share in any profits the consortium makes from cleaning up the spill, even though Eklof is also responsible for its creation.

Despite the business relationship between the major players in the massive oil spill, it has had no adverse effect on the speed or efficiency of the cleanup, said Coast Guard Capt. Barney A. Turlo.

"They've done everything we thought was right," said Turlo, who is overseeing the cleanup operation.

Turlo said he had heard rumors that there was a business relationship between the company heading the cleanup and the owners of the grounded vessels. But Turlo said he was unconcerned as long as the job was getting done properly and as quickly as possible.

"I'm only concerned with the front lines of this operation," Turlo said. "If this (relationship) impacted the front lines, I'd fire all of them and bring in new stuff, but that hasn't happened.

"I can't recall a time when I had to yell and scream at them to do things right. This has been a team operation and they've been a team player."

Donjon Environmental Marine Services began forming its partnerhip late last year, according to spokesman Robert P. Umbdenstock.

Umbdenstock said the four partners formed as a for-profit venture that would be the newest alternative for vessel operators.

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, oil shippers are required to have response plans in place for quick cleanup. Those plans require the shippers to state what company they would contract with in case of an emergency.

According to Coast Guard documents, Donjon Environmental Marine Services received classification as an oil spill removal organization on or around Jan. 15.

Shortly thereafter Donjon put out a news release highlighting its new classification:

"[Donjon] offers ship owners the opportunity to meet planning and operational requirements via a single-source arrangement by the aforementioned group of proven marine professionals," the statement said. "[Donjon] stands ready to respond to any real casualty."

But within hours of the North Cape coming ashore last Friday evening, Donjon was calling in some of its biggest competitors to make certain there would be enough oil spill equipment on site, including Clean Harbors.

"It was big, and (Clean Harbors) were local," said Umbdenstock, adding that Donjon was more concerned with the quickest response possible than who was responding.

Jesse Lewis, a public affairs adviser for Eklof, echoed those sentiments.

"Eklof Marine assembled the best team that was available, and there was no consideration given to business considerations," Lewis said.

Lewis said he had heard rumors that because Eklof wanted to use its partnership cleanup company there had been a delay in responding to the crisis. But he strongly denied those rumors, saying that local cleanup companies such as Clean Harbors were contacted within three hours after the barge went aground.

"So the suggestion that there was a delay is erroneous," Lewis said.

Umbdenstock said that even though this is the first oil spill for Donjon Environmental Marine Services, its individual partners "collectively boast 175 years of casualty response service."