SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Efforts to remove oil from the S.S. Palo Alto were finished on Wednesday and crews are now working to clean up the pier at Seacliff State Beach.

Titan salvage crews spent more than a month removing fuel oil that was trapped 30 feet below the surface on the vessel known as the cement ship.

Divers recovered about 500 gallons of sludge and contaminated sand during the operation. The waste has been shipped to various recycling and hazardous materials facilities.

"I think it's great that they managed to clean it all up . It was a big project and I think they've done it really efficiently and really fast," Aptos resident Joanna Hall said.

The oil was discovered in late 2004, when seabirds such as brown pelican started washing ashore covered in oil. Since then, more than 50 birds have turned up dead.

The work to remove the oil was completed just in time Saturday's 12th Annual Marc Monte Fireworks Extravaganza - a fundraiser for local schools.