Incident News

On 19-Jul-2021, NOAA/NESDIS issued a Marine Pollution Surveillance Report (MPSR) for a possible oil anomaly that was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. Sector Anchorage has requested NOAA to ascertain whether or not this potential oil slick could come ashore.

On July 19, 2021, the USCG D14 and Sector Honolulu notified the NOAA SSC that the Navy reported a release of 100 gallons of diesel fuel from a pipeline at K10 pier in Pearl Harbor due to equipment failure. The fuel was released into the water but was contained by boom. The Navy applied absorbents to clean up the spill. No wildlife was reported to be impacted. USCG reported from on-scene that there was no indication of seabirds, monk seals, or sea turtles in the area. Trustees were notified. No NOAA support was requested.

On 18-Jul-2021, the FV Mount Pavlof hit a rock a sank at Pt. Alava near Ketchikan. The vessel is likely broken up with 600 gallons of diesel on board. Wooden hulled. Sunk in approximately 250 feet water depth. MSD Ketchikan is requesting fates and trajectory analysis and sensitive area information.

On July 16, 2021, the USCG Sector SOO notified SSC of a recreational vessel on fire in the sanctuary. 2 people were rescued and transported to EMS. There is no description of the vessel or on scene confirmation of sheen in the water. Opening the hotline to prepare for more information coming. Notification to sanctuary completed.

On 15-JUL-2021, USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC regarding the 65’ pleasure craft GODFATHER that was partially sunk and drifting, roughly 1 mile off Seal Beach, CA. She is believed to be carrying roughly 500 gallons diesel on board, though no sheening has been observed, and is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Seal Beach by 2100 hrs this evening. USCG requested a hypothetical “what if” trajectory under two scenarios: 1) if the vessel contacts shore and begins to leak, and 2) if it sinks while at anchor offshore where fuel offloading may be attempted.

On 15-JUL-2021, USCG Sector San Diego contacted their NOAA SSC regarding the sunken pleasure craft RELENTLESS that had caught fire and sank roughly 7 miles off Carlsbad, CA in roughly 1,600 feet of water. The vessel had a maximum capacity of 750 gallons diesel and some sheening had been observed from a USCG aircraft after the vessel sank. USCG requested information on oil fate & transport

On July 13, 2021, the NOAA SSC was notified of the sinking of a 79ft vessel being towed from Blaine to Bellingham, WA near Squalicum Harbor. An unknown about of Red dye diesel was seen in the water with the potential to have a total of 100gal. USCG has a vessel on scene that pulled three people out of the water, and an over flight is scheduled. NOAA is working with Washington Ecology and Department of Fish and Wildlife to produce a Resources at Risk.

On July 11, 2021, the NOAA SSC received a call from Sector Columbia River about a 580 foot long bulk carrier that had run aground in low tide in the Columbia River about a mile down stream of the Louis and Clark Bridge. A tug is was standing by to assist with refloating the carrier at high tide. The NOAA SSC provided a verbal resources at risk assessment.

On July 9, 2021, the USCG Sector Detroit called the SSC to review photos taken from an overflight of suspected algal matter on the water surface. The USCG had received reports of an anomaly and conducted an overflight on Thursday, July 8th at 1700 to photograph the anomaly. The anomaly was confirmed to be algae and was supported by observations published on the NOAA NCCOS website.

On the morning of 09-JUL-2021, a sailing vessel reported a large area of sheen roughly 4.5 miles offshore and 11 miles NW of Point Piedras Blancas. The reporting party indicated that it covered a large area, extending “beyond what the eye can see, it took 15 minutes to sail… through and it is a rainbow sheen with sludge in it.” (from NRC Report No. 1310177). USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to discuss the report, as natural oil seeps are known to be in the area. A USCG overflight was scheduled and Sector SF was interested if NOAA NESDIS might have suitable satellite imagery covering that area.