Incident News

On 03 September 2024, SSC NW was contacted by USCG Puget Sound about a 40ft vessel grounded near Neah Bay, Washington. Responders were unable to get to the boat and there is a potential discharge of 50 gallons of diesel. USCG requested trajectory analysis to present to FOSC and tribal partners.

On 1-SEPT-24, USCG Sector Houston Galveston contacted the NOAA Acting Region 6 SSC to notify them of a 350,000 gallons release of Leachate (water that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of the constituents) into Tucker Bayou from a combined landfill and waste water treatment facility in LaPorte, Texas. The release was caused by heavy raining overflowing the tanks and a release valve failure. USCG requested information on both product and location jurisdiction.

Mid-afternoon on 31-AUG-2024, USCG Sector San Diego contacted their NOAA SSC to request support for a vessel sunk roughly 100 miles west of Point Loma, San Diego, CA. All persons on board were rescued and the vessel was reportedly carrying 600 gallons of diesel when she we went down around 1400 hrs local time. Sector San Diego requested oil fate information.

On August 25th a large landslide occurred in Ketchikan, Alaska. One fatality was reported by the media and photos indicate multiple homes were damaged. Several blocks were evacuated due to the risk of additional landslides. USCG advised mariners to be aware of potential debris in the Tongass Narrows. USCG also reported to the NRC that sheen was observed in the waterway.

On August 21, 2024, the tanker Sounion was reported to be on fire after a missile attack in Red Sea. The crew have abandoned the ship. The tanker is reported to be carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil. This hotline is being opened to gather information and understand the potential risks and outcomes should the vessel experience a major oil spill.

On Thursday, August 22, 2024 USCG Sector Puget Sound notified SSC NW of an abandoned 80 steel hull vessel that posed a hazard to navigation. USCG reached out to NOAA to see if an emergency ESA consultation was required. The location is outside of marine protected areas and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

At approximately 0530 on August 19, an estimated 1,450 gallons of concentrated fire fighting foam and 50,000 gallons of water was discharged in an airport hangar in Brunswick, ME.

On Friday, August 16 USCG Sector Southeast New England contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a 4 mile sheen south of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm. USCG requested potential satellite imagery

On August 15, 2024, the USCG Sector San Juan reported a sunken tug (Tug Havoc) on St Croix at the pier at the oil terminal on the south shore. The owner is taking action. The tug reportedly has 400 gallons of diesel plus hydraulic and lube oils onboard.

On 8/12/2024, USCG Sector Western Alaska & US Arctic notified the Alaska SSC that they are continuing to track the reports of a mystery sheen off of Northstar Island, Alaska. Northstar Island in an artificial oil development/production island in the Alaska North Slope. The estimated spill size is “a few ounces.”

On 13 August 2024, SSC was notified by Washington Department of Ecology about a BNSF train that collided with a tanker truck. The collision resulted in approximately 1500 gallons of denatured alcohol and gasoline into a storm drain that leads directly to a waterway. OSRO and WA state onscene mitigating this discharge. No NOAA products requested.

On 12 August, the SSC was notified of a 10 August collision between an autonomous vehicle identified as a NOAA SeaTrac vessel with a 45' pleasure craft. The two vessels were towed ashore conjoined, with no pollution observed. USCG is requesting details on the autonomous vessel operations, characteristics, lighting, and collision avoidance system.

The morning of 06-AUG-2024, NOAA NESDIS issued a Marine Pollution Surveillance Report (MPSR) for possible oil identified by satellite imagery just offshore of Malibu, CA. Imagery was collected at 06-AUG 0150 UTC (05-AUG 1850 hrs Pacific) from a Sentinel 1A (synthetic aperture radar) satellite. USCG and Malibu lifeguards investigated. USCG helicopter overflight was delayed due to marine layer conditions. Vessels on water observed no oil, but helo observed some material in the water. Upon closer inspection by surface vessels, no oil was observed and all units returned to base.

On 8/5/2024, the NOAA SSC received a NESDIS report and inquiry from USFWS for a potential spill east of the Delta Wildlife Refuge (SE LA). The satellite imagery was collected on 8/4, indicating an anomaly (possible oil) approximately 6.45 nm long and 0.22 nm wide. Further investigation from USCG on 8/4 and 8/5 indicated no known source of oil and no sheen or actionable oil in vicinity.

On August 4, 2024, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation notified the Alaska SSC of a developing flood event at the Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, AK, from Suicide Basin. This basin has released glacier lake outburst floods that cause inundation along Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River multiple times each year with a record major flood event in the summer of 2023.

On August 4, 2024, NOAA ERD opened this hotline to capture information on the track and development of tropical storm Debby which is forecast to become a hurricane and make landfall between Tampa and Apalachicola, Florida. USCG Seventh District will establish an area command tomorrow (Aug 5 2024) at 0800. The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator will join Coast Guard at the area command.

On 8/2/24, USCG (SEC NOLA) contacted the SSC regarding a reported spill of crude oil into Joseph Bayou near Cockler Bay in vicinity of SW Pass MS River, LA. The report indicated approx. 10 bbls of crude oil believed to have leaked from the nearby inactive production facility operated by Whitney Oil & Gas. The USCG has requested NOAA assessment of environmental sensitivity/ resources at risk and recommendations to mitigate risk.