Incident News

On January 13, 2021, the US Coast Guard from Sector San Juan notified the SSC of a 328 foot LPG tanker, the MV Kempton at Limetree terminal on the south shore of St Croix, USVI that is loaded with 2526 MT of propane (UN1978). USCG reported that a 12-inch diameter pipe on the vessel has several pinhole leaks and the odor and sound of leaking gas is present.

On December 30, 2020, NOAA ERD opened a hotline to document support to BASRA (Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association) for a Search and Rescue effort in the Bahamas.

On December 26, 2020, the USCG Sector Lower MS contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a grounded, partially sunken tug in the vicinity of MM 830 of MS River near Caruthersville, MO. The vessel was reported to have 2,500 diesel and several hundred gals of lube oil on board. The NOAA SSC requested to provide RAR information and remain on standby for other support as needed.

On December 26, 2020, the USCG MSD Kodiak contacted the NOAA Emergency Response Division regarding a hydraulic fluid spill from the Cutter Spar at the USCG dock in Womens Bay, Kodiak, AK. The release occurred at 11 AM local time. USCG requested a trajectory for an estimated 600 to 650 gallons. Lat Long: 57.729, -152.515.

On December 25, 2020, the USCG San Juan PR notified the NOAA SSC that the tug Pro Assist III sank about 1/4 mile off Yabacoa, Puerto Rico. The tug was fueled with 1000 gallons of diesel fuel oil. A sheen was observed at the vessel location. USCG requested a trajectory and oil fate prediction forecast.

On the morning of December 23, 2020 at 1200 the NW SSC was informed about a sunken 35 foot wooden hulled vessel near Pleasant Harbor Public Water Access. The vessel is actively leaking. Red dye diesel and hydraulic oil have been seen in the water. Washington Ecology is on scene and a salvage unit is expected early afternoon. The USCG has requested a resources as risk assessment.

On December 22, 2020, a BNSF train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed while en-route to the Phillips 66 refinery in Ferndale, WA. The EPA and WA Department of Ecology are responding. This incident occurred near Custer, Washington. Seven cars derailed and five caught fire. For some portion of time, Interstate 5 was shut down by the State Patrol. There was an evacuation of nearby residents. The cause of the derailment is under investigation by federal and state authorities including the FBI and the NTSB. Notification only

On December 21, 2020, NOAA opened this hotline for an incident that began on October 26, 2020. The USCG has received reports of intermittent sheening from inactive Yuma wellhead serial #207985 since Hurricane Zeta made landfall, 26 Oct 2020. Well is located in Breton Sound, LA. The leak is a steady drip of oil and water mixture above the waterline resulting in a light silver to rainbow sheen. No shoreline impacts observed to date. Yuma filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October and is unable to take response actions. LADNR has entered the well into their Orphaned/Abandoned well program and contracted an OSRO to deploy boom. NOAA providing fate/trajectory and resources at risk as requested.

On 16-Dec-2020, MSD Homer reported a pipeline leak at the Trading Bay oil production facility. The leak is underground within a pipeline corridor and is estimated to be approximately 190 barrels of 80% crude oil mix. The position of the leak is about 570 feet from the high tide line. There is no visible oil at this time.

On December 12, 2020, the USCG Sector Mobile contacted the NOAA SSC regarding an incident involving a 75ft steel hull fishing vessel (Lucky Angel) with approximately 10,000 gallons of diesel that caught fire and sank approximately 10 miles south of Horn Island (off MS Coast, Gulf of Mexico). USCG is requesting trajectory and fate analysis.

On December 10, 2020, the USCG Sector LA/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a 35’ vessel partially submerged & grounded in the vicinity of Island Chaffee (a man-made, industrial island near Long Beach, CA). The maximum potential for the vessel is 200 gallons, but the owner reports only 50 gallons of gasoline on board at the time of the incident (2230 hrs, 09-DEC-2020). Today, only light sheening has been observed near the vessel, but Sector wanted to know whether the vessel could impact nearby sensitive sites in the event of a catastrophic release.

In the afternoon of 04-DEC-2020, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary contacted their NOAA SSC to request a drift estimate for a 16’ pleasure craft for potential recovery the following day. The vessel’s last known position from 1130 hrs (Local) was provided; roughly 3.5 miles SW of Moss Landing Harbor. No pollution threat. On Saturday afternoon (05-DEC-2020), an MBNMS staff member reported that the drifting vessel had been recovered and was successfully towed back to Moss Landing for salvage.

On December 4, 2020, the Great Lakes SSC received notification of green liquid in the water associated with a fire at the Toledo Beach Marina, Ohio. The USCG Marine Safety Unit (MSU) in Toledo requested resources at risk and trajectory for 225 gallons of antifreeze.

On November 30, 2020, the 1195- foot Container Ship ONE Apus suffered a container collapse mid-Pacific during a voyage from Yantian, China, to Long Beach, California. The incident occurred approximately 1,600 nautical miles northwest of Hawaii when the ship encountered a storm and heavy seas. The ship changed course and headed to Japan to assess the damage. The owners and managers of the ship are now reporting that the extent of the lost and damaged containers could exceed 1,900 containers with up to 40 hazmat containers. Fully loaded the Apus has a capacity of 14,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) intermodal containers. This hotline is being opened to capture information about the incident and the potential for marine debris and hazardous materials.

On December 2, 2020, the Great Lakes SSC received notification of the bulk carrier Harvest Spirit running aground near buoy marker 13 in the Detroit River. No reports of observed pollution at this time. USCG requests trajectory and RAR for the estimated 280 cubic meters (73968.2 gallons) of marine diesel.

On 26-Nov-2020, there was a discharge of an estimated 4500 gallons of diesel, in the village of Selawik, during a transfer between the tank farm and a day tank. The actual amount discharged is unknown. The discharged product impacted the adjacent frozen ground and reports from the field confirmed product was found under approximately two feet of snow but on top three inches of ice. Sector Anchorage IMD is requesting a Resources at Risk and an Oil Fate Analysis.

On November 27, 2020, the NOAA SSC opened a hotline for the abandoned tug Cape Lookout, now partially submerged in Krause Lagoon, St Croix, US Virgin Islands. The tug has a potential fuel capacity of 48,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 2000 gallons of lube oil. As of 25 November responders had recovered 700 gallons of oil from the water and 5500 gallons of oily water from inside the vessel. The SSC has coordinated with other federal resource management agencies and trustees. A resource at risk report for the incident has been requested.

On November 25, 2020, MSU Texas City requested a fate analysis for the 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel aboard F/V Miss Lena, which sank the evening of November 24. Status of fuel tanks unknown. Vessel is in deep water (~1100 - 1200m) and will be left in place. All crew safely removed from vessel. Phone support provided.

On November, 2020, USCG Sector Long Island Sound notified the NOAA SSC about a 30 foot long vessel that caught fire and sank at the municipal dock in Mystic, CT. There is an active discharge of diesel fuel. USCG requested information on potential resources at risk.

On November 16, 2020, the USCG Sector New York notified the NOAA SSC about a 30' pleasure craft that sank at the dock this morning. USCG reports that a noticeable sheen is coming from the vessel. NPFC opened to begin clean-up. An unknown amount of fuel is onboard. The cause is being investigated.