The M/V New Carissa was a freighter that ran aground on a beach near Coos Bay, Oregon during a storm and broke apart.

Image Credit: USCG

This spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico about 10 miles off the coast of Louisiana. It resulted from the destruction of Taylor Energy’s MC20 oil production platform during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Continuing for nearly two decades, it has become the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history.

Image Credit: NOAA, Jim Jeansonne

Hurricane Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, leaving behind a path of destruction and leaving over a million people without power along the Louisiana coastline. 

Image credit: Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness/Jim Richard

A significant oil spill occurred at the offshore mooring for the La Pampilla crude oil refinery in Lima, Peru. The spill oiled more than 35 miles of shoreline, created a serious health risk at more than 24 beaches, and impacted five marine protected areas.

Image Credit: NOAA/Brandi Todd

An oil pipeline off the coast of Southern California ruptured, oiling shorelines in the Huntington Beach and Newport Beach areas, affecting local wildlife, and forcing beach and fishing closures.

Image Credit: USCG/PO3, Janessa Warschkow

The tug vessel Western Mariner was towing a freight vessel, headed south in Neva Straight outside of Sitka, when a steering failure onboard the tug caused the barge to collide with it. The collision pushed the tug onto the beach, resulting in the release of diesel.

Image Credit: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

The 58-foot fishing vessel Aleutian Isle sank off San Juan Island in Washington State, with an estimated 2,500 gallons of diesel on board and 100 gallons of engine oil and hydraulic oil. It was recovered from over 250 feet of water on September 17 after weeks of complex dive operations.

Image Credit: USCG

The second major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Ian was a devastating and powerful Category 4 hurricane that caused widespread damage across the southeast U.S., especially the states of Florida and South Carolina.

Image Credit: NOAA/William Whitmore