Incident News
Bayou Teche Mystery, Jeanerette, LA, USA
On July 6, 2020, the St. Mary Parrish, LA Sheriff's department notified the USCG Morgan City of a brown substance floating in Bayou Teche. The substance was spotted as far north as Iberia and covered more than 8 miles of Bayou Teche. NOAA assisted with the identification and sampling of the unknown substance. LSU will analyze the substance.
F/V Jamie Lynn, Charleston, SC, Crab Bank, Charleston Harbor, SC
On July 1, 2020, the USCG contacted the NOAA SSC regarding the grounding of the F/V JAMIE LYNN. The vessel grounded on June 24th, 2020. The NOAA SSC was consulted on potential environmental concerns with regard to using a crane barge to lift the vessel and access tanks to remove fuel.
Destin Operating Wellhead Leak, Franklin, LA USA
On June 27, 2020, the USCG received NRC #1280534 regarding a leaking wellhead operated by Destin Operating in Charenton, LA. Approximately 10-15 bbl of sweet crude impacted an unnamed waterway. USCG authorized the removal of oiled vegetation. No reports of oiled wildlife. USCG, LOSCO and NOAA on site tomorrow.
Sailing Vessel Aground Whidbey Island, WA, Mutiny Bay, WA
On the morning of 27 JUN 2020 a sailing vessel ran aground in Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Isalnd, WA. A slow oil drip was reported and being contained in the vessel. The vessel is to be removed at high tide, approximately 2300, on the 27 JUN. NOAA gave a verbal confirmation there are no sensitive resources at risk.
MV OCEAN SPRAY, Pasadena, MD
On 26 June 2020, the USCG Sector Maryland NCR contacted the NOAA SSC about a 60-foot commercial vessel that went aground and sank at a marina in Bodkin Creek, Bayside Beach, Maryland. The vessel has a mixture of petroleum products onboard totaling approximately 200 gallons. USCG requested a trajectory.
Right Whale Strike NJ, United States
A deceased right whale was discovered off of NJ coast (lat/long forthcoming) that has propeller wounds and likely a recent vessel interaction case. NMFS/GARFO has requested coordination with ERD.
TPIC 2-69 Well Unit 2 Delta Duck Oil Spill, Venice, LA USA
On June 23, 2020, the USCG Sector New Orleans received an NRC report of 3-5 barrels of crude oil discharged from a 2-inch gas line, associated with TPIC 2-69 Well Unit 2. The impacted area is within the Delta Duck National Refuge, in Plaquemines Parish.
The source is secured. Containment boom deployed. The majority of impacted vegetation is water hyacinth.
Whitney Oil and Gas Spill Well #256, Venice, LA
On June 21, 2020, the USCG Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division (IMD) received NRC#1280070 reporting an unknown amount of crude oil, discharged from a 2-inch flow line, associated with Garden Island Bay S/L 214, Well#256, located in the Garden Island Bay area, in Plaquemines Parish. Whitney Oil and Gas (Whitney) is the responsible party.
T/V Aquila Vegetable Oil Spill, Mississippi River, MM 98, LA
On June 20, 2020, the USCG Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division (IMD) received a report of a discharge of an unknown amount of vegetable oil (palm oil and coconut oil) from the T/V AQUILA (IMO#9692258) into the Lower Mississippi River (MM 98). OSRO deployed. The NOAA SSC and RRO were notified via email.
FV Stormie B, Sukhoi Lagoon, Kodiak Island, Alaska
On June 19, 2020, NOAA was notified that the F/V STORMIE B ran aground on the beach just outside Sukhoi Lagoon, Kodiak, AK. The vessel sustained two quarter-sized holes in the hull and repaired them using Splash Zone. Master reported no water in the bilges and no pollution from the vessel. The USCG is not requesting any NOAA assistance at this time but will update should the vessel discharge any fuel.
Savoonga Mystery Substance, Savoonga, AK
On June 19, 2020, the NOAA SSC was notified by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisor in Nome that the Village of Savoonga reported a mystery substance on the beach and a number of dead seabirds. The birds appeared to be coated with the substance. The USCG is requesting NOAA's assistance in identifying the substance.
Whitney Tank Battery 49 Garden Island Bay Oil Spill, Venice, LA, USA
On June 18, 2020, the USCG Sector New Orleans received NRC#1279863. Crude oil discharged from an underwater flow line in the Garden Island Bay area, Plaquemines Parish. The estimated amount of discharge is 5bbls. Whitney Oil and Gas is the responsible party. OSRO deployed containment and sorbent boom. Impacted vegetation is predominantly water hyacinth. The impacted area is within the Pass A Loutre State Wildlife Management Area.
T/B PML-2501, 19823 E Pierre Row, De Tour Village, MI 49725, USA
On 11 June 2020 the barge PML-2501 under tow by the tug ANGLIAN LADY and carrying crude coal tar grounded near Sweets Point in area of Sault Sainte Marie, MI. The barge's ballast tank was holed, but no product released.
Tropical Storm Cristobal, Coastal Louisiana
On June 5, 2020, the Tropical Depression Cristobal forecast track heading to Louisiana from the Yucatan Peninsula. The greatest threat according to National Weather Service to the affected area is heavy rainfall and minor to moderate coastal flooding. This hotline was opened to capture planning information.
M/V Hoegh Xiamen, Intermodal Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226, USA
On June 4, 2020, the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville notified the SSC of explosions and a resulting fire aboard the 600 foot RoRo or car carrier vessel M/V Hoegh Xiamen that occurred at approximately 1830 EST at pier 20 on Blount Island, Jacksonville, FL. The estimated position for the vessel is 30.4046N, 081.5467W. Fuel on board was reported to be 64 MT of low sulfur fuel oil, 315 MT of MGO, and 30,355 liters of lube oil. At this time, the Coast Guard does not have information pertaining to the number of tanks aboard the vessel or the distribution of the oil onboard. Cargo consists of 2400 cars each with approximately one eighth of a tank of gasoline plus normal lubricants. Reportedly one firefighter was critically injured and five more had minor injuries. The fire department is on scene and attempting to cool the vessel but are not trying to enter the vessel to extinguish the fire. NOAA is preparing some trajectory analysis information and resources at risk information for the Coast Guard for use in the event of a release.
Sunken Pleasure Craft Matia Island, WA, Eastsound, WA 98245, USA
Morning of 02 JUN 2020, Washington State Ecology was notified of a sunken 41 ft pleasure craft off Matia Island in the San Juan Islands. Coast Guard safely rescued persons onboard before the vessel sank. It is unknown how much fuel is onboard the vessel at this time and Coast Guard is reporting they are not seeing a sheen in the water. They are planning to conduct an overflight at daylight to assess the situation. ESA has been requested at this time.
Bloom Reported as Oil, Parish Governing Authority District 9, LA, USA
On June 1, 2020, the USCG MSU Houma reported to SSC and RRO that they had been receiving reports all weekend about a brownish substance in the water. There were no reports of sheen or smell of oil, and substance appears to be an algae bloom.
Whitney Oil South Pass Platform Leak, Gulf of Mexico, LA, USA
On 31 May 2020 USCG received reports of a 4 mile sheen near South Pass moving south, offshore. A Whitney Oil knockout platform experienced an upset. The product was discharged from the flare. No recoverable oil reported. Estimated 150 gallons discharged.
Un-Manned Rocket Failure, near San Nicolas Island, CA
On 25-MAY-2020, a 70 foot long, un-manned rocket was launched from an aircraft at 35,000’ altitude with 13,500 pounds of RP1 Kerosene fuel on-board (roughly 1,600 gallons). Shortly after launch, two explosions occurred destroying the rocket and causing it to fall to the water roughly 80-90 miles off the coast of Long Beach, CA. On the evening of 26-MAY-2020, USCG Sector LA/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC to request a drift estimate of fuel and/or debris.
F/V ARIANA MARIE, Newport County, RI, USA
On May 21, 2020, A F/V carrying approximately 362 gallons of diesel fuel, 2-five gallon containers of gasoline, and a small amount of hydraulic fuel. The vessel caught fire at 1101 and burned until it sank at 1258 EDT on 21 May 2020 in 105 feet of water. NOAA SSC contacted for support on potential fates of the oil.