Incident News

On April 3, 2024, USCG received a report of floating tar patties released from the dismantling of a Hilcorp barge. Tar patties were observed impacting a marsh shoreline in the area of the release. Cleanup is underway. The USCG requested the NOAA SSC provide on-site support.

On March 30, 2024, NOAA's Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) notiifed the NOAA SSC about a Right Whale carcass floating off the coast of Virginia. GARFO has requested a hindcast for the past 48-72 hours for an estimate of where the whale was when it died.

On 3/28/2024, US Air Force (USAF)/ Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) Environmental personnel notified USCG regarding a release from an old landfill located on a bluff at the Port of Anchorage. The landfill and bluff are on USAF property on JBER. A green liquid was reportedly draining from the bluff into a storm drain and into Cook Inlet.

On March 28, 2024, the USCG Sector San Francisco notified their NOAA SSC of a potential pollution case involving the 39 foot, wooden hulled F/V WESTERLY grounded on Point Reyes near Drakes Bay. At the time of the call, search & rescue (SAR) operations were underway and the pollution potential was not known. An update call at 1545 hrs indicated the vessel was on the rocks, had a maximum potential of 400 gallons diesel on board and access to the site from both land and water was severely restricted due to terrain, rocky shoreline, and surf conditions. Due to high concern for the vessel breaking up before pollution could be properly mitigated, USCG requested oil fate & transport information to inform potential risks and timing to local sensitive areas.

On March 28, the M/V American Mariner was reported by a third party as having struck a cement aid to navigation in the St. Marys River at the South entrance of Munuscong Lake, Michigan, suffering damage on the bow. No pollution has been reported, and none has been observed on scene by the USCG Cutter Katmai Bay. USCG Sector Northern Great Lakes (NGL) reports that the bulk freighter is unloaded, dewatering, and that its dewatering pumps are able to keep up. Sector NGL requested RAR in event of a pollution release.

On March 27, 2024, the M/V Burns Harbour bottomed while loading cargo alongside the BNSF Pier at Duluth Harbor, near Superior, WI. There is no threat of pollution. Two hours prior, the M/V American Courage bottomed alongside its pier while loading in Marquette, MI, on the other side of Lake Superior. USCG Sector Northern Great Lakes contacted the SSC for assistance in communicating reported abnormally low lake levels. The SSC provided current and historical lake level information. Lake levels are not abnormally low, and this was likely not a primary contributing factor to the two vessels bottoming, despite the coincidental timing. The SSC provided information on the sedimentation, dredging, and survey of channels, harbors, and piers.

On March 27, 2024, the M/V American Courage bottomed while loading cargo alongside the Ore Pier at Presque Isle Harbor, near Marquette, MI. There is no threat of pollution. Two hours later, the M/V Burns Harbour bottomed alongside its pier while loading in Superior, WI, on the other side of Lake Superior. USCG Sector Northern Great Lakes contacted the SSC for assistance in communicating reported abnormally low lake levels. The SSC provided current and historical lake level information. Lake levels are not abnormally low, and this was likely not a primary contributing factor to the two vessels bottoming, despite the coincidental timing. The SSC provided information on the sedimentation, dredging, and survey of channels, harbors, and piers.

At 0600, USCG Sector Maryland notified the NOAA SSC that The Port of Baltimore is closed due to a major marine casualty. The 948-foot Singapore-flagged vessel DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge. A safety zone is established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations are underway. Vessel has sustained major damage to the bow. An unknown number of containers fell into the water and a number of containers on board the vessel are damaged.

On March 25, 2024, the secondary containment at a tank battery owned by Denbury Resources discharged an estimated 3-5 bbls of crude oil and produced water mix into a drainage ditch leading to Horsepen Bayou, located in Harris County, TX . Sector Houston-Galveston responded as first Federal on-scene, EPA is arriving this evening to assume FOSC. OSRO is on-site and has deployed boom, vac trucks, and skimmers. The discharge is contained. Wildlife agencies (TPWD and USFWS) have been notified.

On 22-March-2024, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations notified the SSC of a diesel spill that occurred during fueling of the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson at MOC-A in Norfolk, VA. Per standard practice in this location, the ship was boomed by NOAA personnel prior to fueling. The camlock on the fueling barge failed, resulting in diesel release onto the barge, the NOAA vessel and in the Elizabeth River. Fueling operations were secured, the contractor and ship’s crew quickly deployed measures to absorb and mitigate the spread of spilled fuel, and an OSRO was site.

On the morning of 08-MAR-2024, USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC to request support for a 2.5 mile by 1.5 mile "sheen" about 2 miles off of Bolsa Chica wetlands. USCG requested trajectory support for potential impacts to local resources at risk.

On March 5, 2024, NOAA Fisheries Southeast contacted the NOAA SSC requesting a drift analysis for a 30-foot humpback whale carcass floating approximately 25 miles off the North Carolina coast, in the vicinity of the Outer Banks. The SSC contacted the ERD Oceanographer on call with the request.

Alaska SOSC and EPA FOSC contacted the Alaska SSC via email regarding a request from an RP to use in situ burning for a small volume of diesel fuel in ice. The RP reported that 10-gallons of diesel spilled onto a ice pad constructed on top of a frozen tundra pond. Some of the diesel drained deeper into the ice via ice cracks.

At 1110 on 26 February USCG Sector Southeast New England briefed the NOAA SSC on a sunken recreational vessel in the Seekonk River that was sheening. The USCG has taken over the spill response. The vessel is not believed to have any fuel on board, but could hold up to 200 gallons of diesel fuel.

On February 22, 2024, the US Navy Fleet Desk Officer contacted NOAA's Emergency Response Division requesting support with modeling and associated environmental impact for spill/release of 21,000 metric tons of fertilizer in the Gulf of Aden from a damaged freighter.

On 20 FEB 2024, USCG Sector Mobile contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a discharge of hydraulic fluid that occurred on 14 FEB from a jackup rig located at the Gulf State Park Pier. SSC provided fate information on hydraulic fluids.

On 14 Feb 2024, The Coordinator for NOAA's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. Requested a hindmost model from ORR for a reported and confirmed whale strike. The request was forwarded to ORR oceanographers.

On 14 Feb 2024 USCG Sector San Juan reported they were responding to an abandoned drum on Mona Island. The contents of the drum were not known at the time. CG completed emergency consultation forms and distributed them to DOI, NOAA, USFES, and NMFS. The drum was removed without incident on 15 Feb. 2024

On 12 Feb 2024, the NOAA SSC received a notification from D9 DRAT that the 96' Pleasure Craft Helene was submerged alongside the Nicholson Terminal on the Detroit River. The SSC called the USCG Sector Detroit IMD Chief for further details. The vessel has been submerged for approximately 2 weeks, reported with no fuel reported and approx. 3 gallons of engine oil. The vessel area has been boomed and a light rainbow sheen has been observed. The vessel is expected to be raised the week of 12 Feb 2024. No support is requested at this time.

On February 10, 2024, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to report the grounding of the F/V ALEUTIAN STORM near Salmon Creek, just north of Bodega Bay, CA. The vessel was on the beach amidst the surf. No pollution was observed, but the vessel reportedly had 1,500 gallons of diesel on board. USCG sought oil fate & transport info in the event of a release prior to or during vessel salvage operations.