Incident News

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) MSU Valdez notified the Alaska Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding a vessel grounding that occurred in western Prince William Sound on Friday, December 5, 2025. All persons onboard were rescued. Due to severe weather, recovery operations were delayed. The USCG subsequently informed the SSC that the Responsible Party (RP) has been unable to locate the vessel. If the vessel is not located, USCG did not plan any further action. They asked the SSC to confirm that the ~50 gallons of fuel would quickly dissipate, which she confirmed.

Around 0800 on July 26, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District 1 notified the New England Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that there was a dielectric fluid discharge in the Mill River area of East Rockaway, New York with a potential total release of 2,000 gallons.

On November 23, 2025, an asset of Hilcorp released an unknown quantity of crude oil into Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana. The release produced a 2-mile slick/sheen. The release has been secured. An Oil Spill Response Organization (OSRO) was onsite. The U.S. Coast Guard requested a fate and trajectory analysis from NOAA.

The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach that a fire had broken out on the container ship “ONE Henry Hudson” docked at Birth 218 at the Yusen Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is currently working to extinguish the fire. No casualties have been reported. At the request of USCG, the NOAA scientific support team is currently reviewing the vessel’s cargo manifest to assess the presence of potentially hazardous materials.

NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division (PRD) in Gloucester, MA requested drift analyses and trajectory for a dead sperm whale that washed ashore on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The whale is currently secured to the beach and PRD is looking to understand where it may float if released.

On Monday, November 17 at 1200, Washington State Department of Ecology reported a sunk vessel off Grays Harbor, Washington, leaving a floating debris field. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary requested information on the vessel and associated debris location. NOAA OR&R was asked for a drift analysis for the debris field.

On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received National Response Center report #1447893 describing a mystery sheen in Breton Sound. USCG requested NOAA support to identify the likely direction of origin. A USCG Auxiliary overflight identified a Texas Petroleum Investment Company (TPIC) pipeline as the source and reported that the rainbow and light sheen was not recoverable.

At 1100 local time, Sector Mobile Alabama notified the local NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) of a dull sheen, approximately 10 miles long, originating from a pipeline carrying produced water, which may consist of oily water mixture. The SSC on duty was notified. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requested a trajectory to prepare for possible shoreline impacts.

On November 11, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received a National Response Center (NRC) report for a 50-barrel crude oil discharge from a 3-inch Texas Petroleum Investment Company (TPIC) flow line into 1/2 acre of marsh in the South Pass 24 block. The source is secured. An oil spill removal organization (OSRO) is responding. TPIC is requesting an in situ burn. An Incident-Specific Regional Response Team call is scheduled for Nov. 13.

At 1310 on November 6, 2025, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) received a call regarding a vessel sinking near the Kingston Marina in Washington State. The tug Mollusk broke from her anchor and was taking on water near the breakwater. Potential discharge of 1200 gallons of diesel or gasoline are on board. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requested trajectory and fate for this incident.

On October 31, 2025 Castex Energy Lafourche 23 Well #1 began discharging natural gas, produced water, and gas condensate into the air, surrounding marsh, and waterway. Release is ongoing. An Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSRO) is onsite conducting cleanup, containment, and air monitoring operations. Plans to secure release are being developed. U.S. Coast Guard and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality are responding. NOAA is providing comment regarding air plume position.

On October 30, 2025, the on-call NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified by Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) of a grounded fishing vessel near Indianola Spit in the Puget Sound. No pollution has been discharged, but a possible worst case discharge is 500 gallons. WDFW and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) responded on scene and reported two deceased porpoises. Both Washington state and USCG requested SSC assistance to report these marine mammal deaths.

At 1100 local time, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Unit Valdez notified the on-call NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator of a 110-foot fishing vessel adrift 75 nm east of Kayak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. The potential discharge from the vessel is 26,000 gallons of diesel. The USCG requested trajectory of the vessel adrift and the environmental fate of any discharged diesel.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Unit Texas City contacted the NOAA Emergency Spill Line at approximately 0600 (CDT) Oct. 29, 2025. The USCG received notification of a release of an estimated 4400 gallons of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil that occurred at Pier 32 in Galveston Harbor. USCG received notification at approximately 2200 Oct 28. The incident time is estimated at 2130. Oil fate and trajectory were requested.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 0730, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a shrimp vessel that had crashed into the Sunshine Skyway in St. Petersburg, Florida. The vessel's maximum potential discharge is 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is planning to remove the vessel using a crane barge. USCG requested an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation.

On the evening of October 13, 2025, the on-duty Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of flooding impacts to the coastal communities of Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. The SSC has been in contact with NOAA's Disaster Preparedness Program, the local office of NOAA National Weather Service, and state of Alaska personnel. No NOAA products have been requested at this time.

On October 3, 2025, the commercial fishing vessel PHOC THAN MAI III caught fire in Breton Sound, Louisiana, with 25,000 gallons of diesel onboard. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requested from NOAA a fate and trajectory for a potential discharge.

At 1030 on September 29, 20205, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector North Carolina notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) about a derelict 30-foot commercial fishing vessel that was found on the morning of September 28, sunk in the Pamlico Sound offshore of Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Vessel had an estimated 150 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Sector North Carolina requested a trajectory.

On 9/24/25, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that the commercial fishing vessel ADDIE L had grounded on 9/22/2025 in No Name Bay, Kuiu Island, near Kake, Alaska. The USCG had conducted a search and rescue (SAR). USCG requested support acquiring a spot weather forecast to determine if there was a weather window available to lighter the fuel before a storm with hurricane-force winds arrived. There was not a weather window. Total fuel on board is approximately 60 gallons. USCG is monitoring the case and will revisit after the storm.

Multiple MPSRs (Marine Pollution Surveillance Reports) from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) from September 22 through 25, and reports from earlier months, indicate a persistent leak in the Main Pass area. After investigation from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), TPIC (Texas Petroleum Investment Company) finally identified three leaks in the area. Two of the leaks are secured. The USCG is working with TPIC to secure the last one.