Office of Response and RestorationIncident News
Vessel Star Suzanna, Buras, LA, USA
On September 18, 2018, the NOAA SSC was contacted by USCG Sector New Orleans regarding a sheen reported around Mississippi River Mile Marker 34 by the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's office. The sheen was described to be a reddish-brown substance, potentially diesel. USCG Sector New Orleans will continue to gather information about the sheen.
F/V CaptainM&M, Cameron, LA 70631, USA
On September 18, 2018, the NOAA SSC was contacted by USCG MSU Port Arthur regarding the collision of a Fishing Vesse off of Sabine Pass. The USCG is requesting a Fate and Trajectory in order to determine future actions regarding the vessel. No release has occurred at this time.
T/V Jacob Kyle Rusthoven, MM 664 Mississippi River (near Helena, AR)
On September 12, 2018 at 1:44 p.m. ET, the National Response Center received a report of a potential discharge of 13,300 gallons (approximately 316.7 barrels) of diesel fuel in the Lower Mississippi River (MM 670) near Helena, AR. The incident occurred on September 12, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. CT when the T/V Jacob Kyle Rusthoven carrying nine (9) loaded rock barges caught fire. The crew of the vessel abandoned ship and were retrieved by a nearby vessel and three (3) of the barges broke free in the river. USCG requested initial Resources at Risk.
NECCO Plant: Anhydrous Ammonia, 135 American Legion Hwy, Revere, MA 02151, USA
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2018 the USCG Sector Boston was contact by the Revere Fire Department regarding a release of ammonia due to cross-contamination of a copper piping system for water and a tank of anhydrous ammonia. Concerns remain about the potential for additional release from the 35,000 gallon anhydrous tank contained within plant. NOAA SSC and the NOAA chemistry specialist have been contacted and are working with the Coast Guard.
LOBO Tank Battery 12, Well 161, 235 Cypress Cove Rd, Venice, LA 70091, USA
On September 10, 2018, the USCG Sector New Orleans contacted the NOAA SSC regarding the discharge of 20-40 gallons of oil from LONO's tank battery 12 facility well 161. The source has been reported as secure, and the clean up of marsh is being conducted.
Hurricane Florence, North Carolina, USA
Florence become a major hurricane on Monday September 10. Landfall is expected near the Cape Fear/Wilmington, NC area later in the week. NWS expects significant storm surge, elevated wind speeds, heavy rains, flooding, high surf and dangerous rip currents. This hotline was opened to capture information about the storm.
F/V Master D, 40 miles east of Port Isabel, Texas
On August 31, 2018, the NOAA SSC was contacted by USCG Sector Corpus Christie regarding a fire aboard the FV Master D. Potential onboard is 23,000 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons lube oil. The incident occurred approx 38 miles offshore. It was reported that there is a 1/2 mile sheen behind the vessel. USCG is requesting a Trajectory and potential resources at risk.
Corpus Christi Inner Harbor Discharge, Nueces Bay, Corpus Christi, TX USA
On August 30, 2018, the NOAA SSC was contacted by USCG Sector Corpus Christi regarding a discharge of oil in the Corpus Christi inner harbor from an overloaded barge. An estimated 1,176 gallons of oil was discharged. USCG requested a potential resources at risk and trajectory.
Barge CBR 2017, Port Arthur, TX USA
On August 29, 2018 , the USCG MSU Port Arthur contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a collision of a two vessels. The incident occurred at ~ 1555CDT. The USCG is requesting a fate and trajectory.
F/V HIT LIST Fire, 2 Ferry Wharf, Newburyport, MA, USA
On August 24, 2018, the USCG Sector Boston notified NOAA that a 42 foot tuna boat caught fire at the dock in the Merrimack River, Newbury Port, MA. The vessel had 500 gallons of marine diesel onboard when it caught fire and sank at the dock. USCG requested trajectory
Hurricane Lane, Hawaiian Islands, South of Main Hawaiian Islands
Hurricane Lane, located about 180 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, continues to move slowly north-northwest toward the islands. Lane is currently a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. A Hotline was established August 23, 2018 for any support NOAA ERD may provide in response to the effects of the hurricane.
Vermilion Gasoline/Asphalt Marina Discharge, Vermilion, OH
On August 23, 2018, MSU Cleveland notified the NOAA SSC about an Incident that was discovered on Friday 17 August 2018. An 8000 gallon above ground gasoline tank at a local marina developed a leak somewhere along its underground line connecting the fuel pumps along the dock. Approximately 829 gallons of gasoline is unaccounted. The majority of the product is believed to be saturated in the ground under the asphalt and slowly leaching out causing a rainbow sheen and deteriorated asphalt to enter the Vermilion River. USCG is requesting Resources at Risk.
Synthetic Oil Spill Blount Island Jacksonville, FL, 12811 Co Rd 234, Micanopy, FL 32667, USA
On August 22, 2018, the USCG Sector Jacksonville reported a 2800 gallon spill of a sythetic oil ( Amalie XLO Ultimate Synthetic Blend 15W40) from a tank on the deck of a barge at the Blount Island terminal in Jacksonville, FL. NOAA OR&R was requested to provide a trajectory, oil fate, weather forecast and a resources at risk report.
Main Pass 69 Sheen, 3138 LA-44, Darrow, LA 70725, USA
On August 14, 2018, the USCG Sector New Orleans contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a sheen reported on 13AUG2018 @ 1534 for an unknown amount of oil discharging from an unknown source resulting in an estimated 0.25nm long and 50ft wide sheen in the water.
Grounded F/V Pacific Quest, Santa Cruz, CA
On August 12, 2018, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) staff contacted the NOAA SSC about a grounded fishing vessel just outside Santa Cruz, CA at the base of the bluff near UC Santa Cruz’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center. The vessel is carrying 1,200 gallons of diesel. Responders on-scene have requested a trajectory.
Failed Wellhead, Gulf of Mexico, Port Arthur, TX
On August 10, 2018, the USCG MSU Port Arthur contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a failed well head that has a potential to discharge crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico once repair operations begin. Operations will most likely begin early next week. The USCG is requesting preliminary trajectory and fate if oil discharges.
Mystery Sheen MC 807, Gulf of Mexico
On August 7, 2018, the USCG Houma, LA, requested support in responding to a NESDIS Satellite Marine Pollution Surveillance Report. The report, received Aug 06 2018, found a potential sheen estimated to be 8 nm by 0.2 nm in length. The USCG requesting assistance from the NOAA SSC in identifying potential source of sheen including EPA regulated ocean disposal sites.
F/V BEACH RUNNER Sinking, United States
On 4 August at 2:30pm, USCG Sector Delaware Bay notified the NOAA SSC that the F/V BEACH RUNNER, sank 9 miles offshore of Capr May, NJ. 200 gallons of diesel fuelwere discharged. USCG requested verbal trajectory.
Oil Transfer Accident / Chemistry Support, Klamath Falls, OR
On August 2nd, 2018, the NOAA Regional Response Officer was contacted by Oregon State On-Scene Coordinator with regard to an oil transfer accident in Klamath Falls, OR. Upon initiating oil transfer (truck to storage tank) operator was burned by an extremely hot fluid exiting the hose/tank coupling. A brown-yellow vapor was observed exiting the tank. Information on possible chemical reactions causing this scenario is requested.
NESDIS Mystery Sheen GOM, offshore LA
On July 28, 2018, the USCG notified the NOAA SSC regarding an anomaly (potential mystery sheen) identified by NESDIS satellite imagery. The USCG requested review of the NESDIS imagery and general trajectory.