Incident Archive
The complete set of public incident records Tarline collects for the California coast, from four independent sources: NOAA IncidentNews case pages, raw National Response Center caller reports, satellite oil-signature detections, and California Spill Watch response notices. Search the text, narrow to one source, and page through the whole history.
Every row here is a source report, not a confirmed release. National Response Center entries in particular are self-reported by callers with no agency verification step, satellite detections are possible signatures rather than sampled oil, and a report saying nothing about a beach is not evidence that the beach was clean. Follow the link on a row and read the original record before citing it.
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Records
Showing 26 to 50 of 319 records for IncidentNews
- IncidentNews
Possible Oil Detected by Satellite Imagery off Coastal California
oil · ID 11098 · 38.896, -124.318
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NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) observed an anomaly in satellite imagery which was suspected to be oil. The possible discharge was observed along the track of a suspected source vessel. (The product indicated a potential oil spill that may not be confirmed by ground truth data.) The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) contacted the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and an investigation was begun. USCG contacted the vessel in question and their shipping agent and determined the anomaly was produced by a legal discharge of palm oil. The vessel master confirmed tank washings were discharged legally 35 NM offshore, meeting all depth, speed, and location requirements stipulated by the regulations and the discharge was fully compliant with MARPOL Annex II. The NOAA SSC communicated this information to the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and informed NESDIS.
- IncidentNews
Beached Sailboat on East Beach; Santa Barbara, California
oil · ID 11093 · 34.416, -119.675
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The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified by U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara that an approximately 45-foot sailboat has beached near East Beach in Santa Barbara, California. The U.S. Coast Guard intends to remove all hazardous materials and fuel on board if it is safe to do so. No additional support has been requested at this time.
- IncidentNews
Vessel Adrift; Dillon Beach, California
oil · ID 11092 · 38.246, -122.976
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The OR&R Hazmat Duty Officer received a call from the answering service on the morning of December 15, 2025. The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) followed up with a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) contact and was notified that an18-foot fiberglass vessel was adrift near Dillon Beach, last spotted Saturday, December 13, and was involved in a search and rescue operation. No support was requested. An estimated 3 gallons of gas was still on board.
- IncidentNews
Containership Fire at Port of Los Angeles; Long Beach, California
chemical · ID 11087 · 33.698, -118.215
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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.
- IncidentNews
Shipping Container Spill, Port of Long Beach; Long Beach, California
other · ID 11064 · 33.744, -118.202
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Shortly before 9am on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 50+ containers fell from the vessel Mississippi while it was berthed at the Pier G container terminal in the Port of Long Beach. No persons were injured and no oil discharge of hazardous materials has been reported. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has established a security zone around the vessel. On Sept. 11, the USCG contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator to request regular updates on weather and tides to support on-going salvage efforts.
- IncidentNews
Aircraft Crash near Point Pinos, Monterey Bay; Pacific Grove, California
oil · ID 11040 · 36.628, -121.940
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Initial Report: Late on 7/26/2025, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector San Francisco contacted the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) regarding the crash of a small aircraft near Point Pinos, Monterey Bay. The location is in or near the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Asilomar State Marine Reserve. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to arrive on-scene later today. The aircraft was a Beechcraft Twin-Engine, with a fuel capacity of up to 180 gallons. An exact location of the crash is currently unknown. USCG requested a fate and trajectory estimate for where oil may be when NTSB arrives on-scene, approximately 18 hours after the crash. USCG July 27, 2025 Press Release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4256611/coast-guard-partner-agencies-respond-to-plane-crash-near-point-pinos-calif/
- IncidentNews
Sheen near San Clemente Island; Southern California
other · ID 10982 · 33.077, -118.113
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The NOAA SSC was notified by USCG Sector San Diego's Incident Management Division (IMD) that a USCG aircraft observed a sheen approximately 0.25 mile X 0.25 mile in size approximately 20 miles east of San Clemente Island (the southernmost of the eight California Channel Islands). USCG reports no wells or pipelines in the area and no recent vessel transits of the area. The aircraft collected 4 photographs. Initial impression is that the sheen is biological. The aircraft is still on-scene and will communicate any additional observations.
- IncidentNews
Crashed Private Plane; San Diego, California
oil · ID 10978 · 32.698, -117.314
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USCG Sector San Diego notified the NOAA SSC of a private plane that crashed at 3:32 p.m. Pacific Time approximately 3 nautical miles off Point Loma, California. USCG requested an assessment of the trajectory and persistence of the released fuel.
- IncidentNews
Possible HazMat Spill; Crockett, California
oil · ID 10946 · 38.056, -122.225
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On April 2, 2025, the local NWS Weather Forecast Office staff contacted their NOAA SSC to relay a report from Contra Costa Fire Department of an ongoing spill being investigated in Carquinez Strait in Crockett, CA. A Cal OES report (No. 25-1666) was generated at 1719 hrs (local) describing “a large sheen forming in the waters of Carquinez Straights” ” and concurrent observations indicated a petroleum smell and a sheen, but no black oil. SSC contacted USCG, which had not yet heard of the incident, but would investigate. A USCG helicopter overflight observed bright white silver streaks/streamers in the waters of Carquinez Strait and local news later reported an unknown odor being investigated by local FD.
- IncidentNews
Pleasure Craft EMERALD C grounded, Stillwater Cove; Pebble Beach, California
oil · ID 10937 · 36.566, -121.942
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On March 26, 2025, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a 54-foot pleasure craft EMERALD C that grounded the previous night and is ashore in Stillwater Cove (adjacent to Pebble Beach Golf Links). At the time, the vessel was on sand and reportedly had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on-board.
- IncidentNews
Possible Pollutant Report; off Stinson Beach, California
other · ID 10935 · 37.883, -122.628
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Mid-day on March 15, 2025, USCG Sector San Francisco's Incident Management Division contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a possible oil sighting off of Stinson Beach, California. Initial reports from Stinson Beach Fire Department indicated “black blotches breaking up in the water.” The fire department was not able to get within 500 yards of the material, but did not smell any petroleum product. They chose to make a report to the National Response Center (NRC) in an abundance of caution. USCG then requested input on a possible pollution event. Photos were provided. Further investigation revealed that the source was biogenic—masses of small jellyfish-like creatures, Vellela velella, commonly known as “by-the-wind” sailors—and not a pollutant. The USCG stood down operations on the case, with no further requests for OR&R support.
- IncidentNews
Crude oil discharge, Berth 55; Port of Long Beach, California
oil · ID 10934 · 33.773, -118.209
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On March 12, 2025, the NOAA SSC was notified that an undetermined quantity of crude oil had reportedly discharged from an underground pipeline into a storm drain, ultimately reaching the Port of Los Angeles near Berth 55. Within the hour, the source was secured and USCG & OSROs were on-scene conducting clean-ups. Primary and secondary containment boom was deployed, two vacuum trucks actively skimming, and four vessels were on water working the cleanup. The morning of 13-MAR, an informal request for use of surface washing agent (SWA) was made for the purpose of de-contaminating local bulkheads and vessel hulls. USCG and California’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response (OSPR) requested NOAA SSC input and an incident-specific RRT request for SWA is being processed.
- IncidentNews
Navy Jet Fighter Crash; San Diego Bay, CA
oil · ID 10918 · 32.704, -117.235
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On 12-FEB-2025, the USCG D-11 District Response Advisory Team (DRAT) alerted their NOAA SSC to a US Navy fighter jet (F-18) crash into San Diego Bay. The initial location description was near the South end of Shelter Island. Early NRC reports note a small area of sheen in the water and a potential spill volume of 300 gallons of jet fuel. A NOAA Factsheet on Kerosene & Jet Fuel spills was provided to USCG Sector San Diego as they support the Navy during response operations.
- IncidentNews
Battery Facility Fire; Moss Landing, CA
chemical · ID 10901 · 36.808, -121.782
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On January 16, 2025, the National Weather Service contacted the California SSC to report a fire underway at a lithium-ion battery storage facility in Moss Landing, CA. Evacuation orders were issued to local residents, NWS ran a HYSPLIT air plume model, and EPA has been monitoring local air quality. This Hotline was opened to monitor the incident and capture/archive air plume modeling information.
- IncidentNews
Sailboat Sinking/Grounding, Oceanside Harbor; Oceanside, CA
oil · ID 10869 · 33.206, -117.403
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On November 7, 2024, the USCG Sector San Diego contacted the SSC regarding a 27-foot sailboat on the rocks of the north jetty of Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside, CA. The USCG estimates less than 50 gallons of diesel are on board, and there is no sheen. The USCG requested assistance with conducting an ESA Section 7 emergency consultation.
- IncidentNews
F/V THE JIG STRIKE Sunk; 100+ miles off San Diego, CA
oil · ID 10845 · 32.467, -119.200
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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.
- IncidentNews
Satellite Imagery Anomaly; off Malibu, CA
other · ID 10833 · 34.017, -118.663
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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.
- IncidentNews
Mystery Spill in Threemile Slough; Rio Vista, CA
oil · ID 10810 · 38.115, -121.684
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On 02-JUL-2024, USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to report a gasoline spill in Threemile Slough near Rio Vista, CA. At the time of the call, USCG personnel were just arriving on-scene, so initial details were sketchy. Initial assumptions were that the pollutant was gasoline, the source was not secured, and it may be related to a permanently closed marina that had known fueling facilities. Initial maximum potential spill volume was estimated at 5,000 gallons. USCG requested initial fate & transport information to inform initial on-scene investigations and actions.
- IncidentNews
Two Sheens; East of San Clemente Island, CA
oil · ID 10800 · 32.917, -118.203
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Mid-afternoon on 09-JUN-2024, USCG Sector San Diego contacted their NOAA SSC to report two sheens observed just east of San Clemente Island by a USCG aircraft earlier in the day. One sheen was described as 1,000 feet x 1-1.5 miles, the other was described as roughly 4.5 miles long. No black oil was reported, but at least some rainbow sheen was observed. USCG will have a helicopter in the area tomorrow morning (10-JUN-2024) on a training flight and requested a possible search area.
- IncidentNews
Sheening M/V AURORA; Little Potato Slough, Stockton, CA
oil · ID 10805 · 38.057, -121.501
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On 22-MAY-2024, USCG Sector San Francisco began responding to the sunken M/V AURORA, a 65-year old, 293-ft decommissioned cruise ship in Little Potato Slough near Stockton, CA. The AURORA was discharging an unknown amount of oil into the San Joaquin River Delta, so Sector San Francisco opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and hired a salvage contractor to mitigate the pollution, while the City of Stockton closed a local drinking water intake.
- IncidentNews
Grounded F/V WESTERLY; Point Reyes, CA
oil · ID 10765 · 37.992, -122.981
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On March 28, 2024, the USCG Sector San Francisco notified their NOAA SSC of a potential pollution case involving the 39 foot, wooden hulled F/V WESTERLY grounded on Point Reyes near Drakes Bay. At the time of the call, search & rescue (SAR) operations were underway and the pollution potential was not known. An update call at 1545 hrs indicated the vessel was on the rocks, had a maximum potential of 400 gallons diesel on board and access to the site from both land and water was severely restricted due to terrain, rocky shoreline, and surf conditions. Due to high concern for the vessel breaking up before pollution could be properly mitigated, USCG requested oil fate & transport information to inform potential risks and timing to local sensitive areas.
- IncidentNews
Diesel Spill from U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder; WNW of Fort Bragg, CA
oil · ID 10756 · 39.604, -124.360
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On March 15, 2024, USCG Sector Humboldt Bay contacted their NOAA SSC to request trajectory support for a 500-gallon diesel spill from the USCG Cutter ALDER earlier in the morning, roughly 30 miles WNW of Fort Bragg, CA. Oil fate & transport info was provided verbally by phone.
- IncidentNews
Sheen Report; off Huntington Beach, CA
oil · ID 10751 · 33.668, -118.075
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On the morning of 08-MAR-2024, USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC to request support for a 2.5 mile by 1.5 mile "sheen" about 2 miles off of Bolsa Chica wetlands. USCG requested trajectory support for potential impacts to local resources at risk.
- IncidentNews
Grounded Fishing Vessel Aleutian Storm; Bodega Bay, CA
oil · ID 10742 · 38.332, -123.070
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On February 10, 2024, the USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to report the grounding of the F/V ALEUTIAN STORM near Salmon Creek, just north of Bodega Bay, CA. The vessel was on the beach amidst the surf. No pollution was observed, but the vessel reportedly had 1,500 gallons of diesel on board. USCG sought oil fate & transport info in the event of a release prior to or during vessel salvage operations.
- IncidentNews
24 Lost Shipping Containers; offshore of Monterey, CA
other · ID 10740 · 36.283, -122.973
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On February 7, 2024, USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to report the loss of 24 shipping containers from the M/V PRESIDENT EISENHOWER the night before, approximately 64 NM southwest of Monterey, CA. No hazardous materials were in any of the lost containers and it was not clear at the time of the report whether any containers were insulated/refrigerated. USCG ran their SAROPS (Search And Rescue Optimal Planning) model to provide an initial drift estimate, indicating downcoast movement. On the morning of 09-FEB-2024, USCG C-130 aircraft observed a shipping container to the southeast of the reported drop location, near the southern reaches of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). MBNMS staff contacted the SSC to request further trajectory information on the floating container to inform further Sanctuary decisions.
Ordered by the date each record reports, newest first, 25 per page. Dates are California local time.
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