The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent two experts to the western island state of Hawaii for help in cleaning up the 1,400 tons of molasses spilled in the Honolulu Harbor this week.

Senator Brian Schatz said that he will ensure that the federal resources and expertise are used to help clean up the spill by working with the state authorities. He said that the spill is serious and it requires a coordinated, aggressive response in order to minimise the effect on natural resources, marine life and businesses.

Reports have suggested that the crew have already collected about 200 dead fish near the harbour. The spill was caused by Matson Navigation and a company official said that it was not ready for the possibility of a spill when it occurred this week. The chief executive of the transit company said that the company will fully pay for the clean-up operation and other costs without passing them over to the taxpayers or customers.

Matson Navigation Co. CEO Matt Cox apologised for the spill. "We've let you down, and we're very sorry," Cox said. He also affirmed that the company will stop shipping molasses until it is confident that a similar spill will not occur in the future.