Most of the fuel has been removed from the stricken ship Casitas, aground on the northern edge of Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and two tugs and a ship are heading for the island to prepare to pull it off the wildlife refuge reef.

The workboat American Quest has skimmers operating in the 145-foot ship's flooded holds, sucking petroleum products from the surface of the water. The Quest's crew also is removing gasoline, lubricating oil and other contaminants from the ship.

By Monday, the Coast Guard cutter Walnut had removed most of the Casitas' 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel and was returning to Honolulu, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson. The Quest pumped out the last 2,800 gallons. The Quest reported that no oil appeared to be leaking from the ship, and no wildlife covered with oil had been seen.

The Casitas had been carrying marine debris-removal crews through the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands when it hit the reef at Pearl and Hermes shortly after midnight July 2.

Johnson said that an underwater photographic survey of the ship's hull was performed on Friday, but that the results of the survey are considered part of the wreck investigation and will not be released.

Three vessels are en route for Pearl and Hermes to try to get the Casitas off the reef. They are the tug American Emerald from Honolulu, the ship Condor from Honolulu and the tug American Contender from Alaska. They are to reach Pearl and Hermes on July 21. The two tugs are towing barges to be used in the effort.