Incident News

On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Strike Team contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding response support after Typhoon Sinkalu impacted the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. The USCG sought input on how to properly identify and respond to possible pollution targets. No products were requested from NOAA at this time.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a sunken 40-foot sailboat in the Montego Village Marina in San Diego Bay. The vessel contains a reported 40 gallons of diesel. Minimal sheening has been observed. USCG has assumed jurisdiction over the response and will raise the vessel and remove any fuel on board. At the request of USCG, the NOAA SSC has informed Endangered Species Act (ESA) trustee agencies.

On April 16, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that they are investigating a mystery sheen reported at the Port of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska. The source is suspected to be from a jet fuel discharge (<200 gallons) that occurred on December 25, 2025. The sheen is coming from ice on piers at the fuel dock at the port. Sheen and a fuel odor has been reported up to one mile away, particularly during falling tides. Cook Inlet Beluga whales (listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act) and migratory birds have been observed in the vicinity of the sheen occurrence area.

On April 8, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Maryland contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) to request a trajectory analysis for the partially sunken tugboat Gale in Curtis Bay, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland. The tug struck a submerged object at approximately 6 am, April 8. Not known yet is the damage to the hull or the screw that led to the flooding. The vessel is boomed off and currently reporting no sheen or discharge. They report between 6,000 to 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel remaining between four fuel tanks, and that they have a total fuel capacity of 12,800 gallons. Follow-up investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland determined that the partial sinking of the tugboat Gale was due to the barge striking a previously unknown sunken barge.

On April 3, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for California was contacted by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach regarding a compromised container of sodium hydroxide. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed on scene and established a 1000-foot safety zone around the container. Hazardous materials handlers were dispatched to assist in opening the container, assessing additional risks or hazards, and beginning off-loading the container. The container doors were opened without incident. The Incident Command demobilized April 3 and the remainder of the cleanup was managed by the facility.

On March 27, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for Oceania was notified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Honolulu of a sheen observed via satellite. No products were requested from NOAA; this was for notification only. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was also notified of the satellite observation and investigated using aircraft. The sheening was determined to be caused by a dead, decaying whale off the coast, which the USCG was able to visually verify.

On March 27, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco called the 24/7 NOAA spill emergency line to report that a small motor boat had washed ashore near the mouth of the Salinas River on March 26 after a Search & Rescue effort. Today the vessel was submerged by the high tide. California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) reported little to no remaining fuel on board. No support needed from NOAA; notification only.

The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast District was contacted regarding an oil spill of unknown origin affecting coastlines of Mexico. Reports from the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaría de la Marina; SEMAR) shared that oil had been observed on the shores of Tabasco on March 2, 2026. Oil was later discovered extending to the cities of Coatzacoalcos, Tampico, and then to Tuxpan. NOAA has been asked by the government of Mexico and the USCG Heartland District to assist with satellite imagery, assessments, and risk analysis. The spill location is estimated at this time.

On March 25, 2026, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO) contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a reported 7 barrel discharge of low-sulfur crude oil (LSC) from a 4-inch flowline located at the Terrebone Bay - Lake Barre facility operated by Hilcorp. The NOAA SSC contacted the Federal On Scene Coordinator Representative (FOSCR) Marine Safety Unit Houma, which is sending personnel to investigate. The State and U.S. Coast Guard are concerned about potential impact to areas where a current oyster closure is in place. A trajectory was requested from NOAA.

On March 23, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Port Arthur contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for Texas regarding an explosion that occurred that evening at the Valero Oil Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. The USCG requested a plume model, which the SSC coordinated through the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC). On the morning of March 24, the local emergency operations center and facilities representatives reported that the fire had been extinguished and the source secured and compartmentalized. MSU Port Arthur deployed responders in the vicinity of the facility to check the waterway and reported no observed petroleum products, chemicals, or fire foam. There have been no requests for updated modeling at this time.

On March 5, 2026, the F/V Yankee Rose overturned and sank approximately two miles off Provincetown, Massachusetts. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Southeastern New England contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) on March 12, requesting a trajectory for a small diesel spill that seemed to be coming from the vessel. A verbal trajectory was provided and information about the fate of diesel spills in the marine environment. Due to concerns with marine mammals and whales potentially in the area, the SSC contacted NOAA Fisheries Service, which contacted and coordinated with the USCG. No further SSC assistance was requested.

On March 11, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Northern New England contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC), requesting a trajectory for a commercial fishing vessel that sank off the coast of Maine. A verbal trajectory and information about diesel spills was shared. No further SSC assistance was requested.

On the morning of March 10, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Delaware Bay notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that they were responding to a scrap metal fire onboard a barge in tow. Cause is unknown at this time and there has been no reported pollution. Sector Delaware Bay has not requested any support from NOAA at this time.

On March 9, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that the container ship OOCL Sunflower lost 32 shipping containers overboard on March 3, while transiting south of the Aleutian Island Chain enroute from Taiwan to the Port of Long Beach, California. The crew is unable to make a final assessment of the damages due to safety concerns, and intends to perform a full evaluation in port upon arrival to the Port of Long Beach on March 12. The crew has not observed any overboard discharge of material, nor damage below the waterline. The vessel is currently located 1,200 nautical miles west of Portland, Oregon, heading southeast. USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach is preparing for the arrival of the vessel. The NOAA scientific support team is currently reviewing the cargo manifest.

On the morning of March 6, 2026, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Ohio Valley contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a release of a potential 15-million gallons of untreated sewage into the Ohio River at/near mile marker (MM) 5 near Pittsburgh. No hazardous waste or oil discharge was reported. The USCG requested from NOAA basic information on sewage discharges and general consultation and recommendations. The SSC provided background information on previous similar events and is standing by if further support is requested. No further action is anticipated at this time. Jurisdiction is outside of the National Contingency Plan (NCP) and USCG. Local authorities and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have all been notified and consulted with.