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 201 to 225 of 319 records for IncidentNews
- IncidentNews
Tug Delta Captain; Offshore of Point Sur, CA
oil · ID 8585 · 36.270, -122.155
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At approximately 1700 hours (local) on 13-APR-2013, the tug Delta Captain was reportedly sinking approximately 13NM off Point Sur, CA. At the time, she was towing a deck barge with a crane on board and a total of 22,000 gallons of diesel (18,000 on the tug, 4,000 on the barge). By the time a USCG helicopter was on-scene to conduct search & rescue operations, the barge, a life boat and debris was visible but no signs of pollution and no tug boat. Four survivors were rescued and taken to shore and the tug is believed sunk and possibly suspended below the barge by a 1,400 foot tow cable. Water depths in the area are approximately 400 fathoms (2,400 feet), seas are reportedly 14-16 feet and gale force winds. A second tug boat is due on-scene in the next 14 hours. USCG Sector San Francisco contacted their NOAA SSC to request a precautionary “what if” trajectory in the event there is a catastrophic release of product before tomorrow’s first light overflight.
- IncidentNews
M/V Champion Express adrift; Off Half Moon Bay, CA
other · ID 8572 · 37.520, -122.687
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In the evening of 28-Feb-2013, the 628 foot M/V CHAMPION EXPRESS was reported adrift approximately 8NM West of Half Moon Bay, CA. The loaded bulk cargo ship carrying liquid fertilizer had reported an engine leak that forced an engine shutdown. At the time USCG contacted their NOAA SSC, she had been drifting for approximately 5 hours. A tug was en route at the time of the call and expected to be on-scene in an hour or so. USCG Sector SF requested a precautionary drift estimate of the ship in the event there is difficulty getting her under tow. No pollution has been reported or is anticipated at this time.
- IncidentNews
Platform IRENE potential spill; Off Point Arguello, CA
oil · ID 8497 · 34.607, -120.728
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At 1000hrs (local time), USCG District 11 Command Center contacted their NOAA SSC about a potential release from Platform IRENE off Point Arguello, just to the North & West of Santa Barbara Channel. A pressure drop was detected on one of Platform IRENE’s production lines with a reported maximum potential volume of 31,000 gallons crude. No product has been observed on the surface by platform workers on-scene. An Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV) is on-scene and transiting the pipeline corridor connecting Platform IRENE to shore to look for product on the surface. In addition, a helicopter overflight is being scheduled with the local Sheriff’s office and a USCG C-130 overflight may occur later in the day. A precautionary “what-if” trajectory has been requested.
- IncidentNews
F/V Sea Biscuit; Near Bodega Bay, CA
oil · ID 8498 · 38.307, -123.019
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At 1045hrs (local time), CA’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response (OSPR) contacted their NOAA SSC to request a trajectory estimate for the F/V SEA BISCUIT, which beached late last night in the surf near Bodega Bay, CA. The vessel has 150 gallons of diesel on board and a rainbow sheen was observed nearby sometime this morning. The State is considering a temporary closure of some local fisheries in the vicinity as a result of the spill and have requested a trajectory estimate on which to base their closure boundary.
- IncidentNews
Mystery sheen; San Pedro Channel, Off Los Angeles, CA
oil · ID 8496 · 33.502, -118.118
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In the early afternoon of 23-August-2012, USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC to request support for a mystery sheen reported earlier in the day. A sheen from an unknown source was observed and reported to the USCG at approximately 0700 hours (local) at 33º 30.09’N, 118º 07.08’W. A subsequent USCG overflight at approximately 1030 hours (local) observed a heavy sheen covering approximately 1 square mile. A trajectory estimate was requested.
- IncidentNews
Pleasure Craft Revenge; Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island, CA
oil · ID 8461 · 34.032, -120.040
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On the afternoon of 10-JUNE-2012, USCG Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara contacted their NOAA SSC about the vessel REVENGE that had sunk just off Carrington Point on Santa Rosa Island, CA. The REVENGE is a 40' pleasure craft with 250 gallons of diesel on board. She is not leaking at present and salvage/removal operations will commence on the morning of 11-JUNE-2012. USCG requested a precautionary "what if" trajectory estimate from NOAA ERD in the event the vessel leaks overnight or before salvage operations are completed.
- IncidentNews
Army Corps vessel; NW of Eureka, CA
oil · ID 8457 · 41.138, -124.386
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On the afternoon of 06-JUNE-2012, the USCG District 11 Command Center notified the NOAA SSC of an Army Corps of Engineers vessel that had reported a loss of 90-110 gallons of hydraulic fluid from one of their propellers. The release reportedly occured at 2115hrs (Local) on 05-JUNE-2012 approximately 10NM West of Patricks Point, just north of Eureka, CA. USCG D-11 intends to perform an overflight of the area and requested NOAA Trajectory support to inform their search activities.
- IncidentNews
Mystery Sheen; Off San Diego, CA
oil · ID 8450 · 32.720, -117.597
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On the evening of 22-MAY-2012, the USCG District-11 Command Center contacted their NOAA SSC to report a mystery sheen observed by a USCG helicopter offshore of San Diego, CA at 1814hrs (local time). The observation was described as a 3NM x 3NM rainbow sheen approximately 16.5NM west of Point Loma and approximately 5NM North of the US/Mexican border as depicted by the offshore EEZ boundary. A trajectory estimate was requested to establish whether the sheen might threaten Mexican waters.
- IncidentNews
Platform Elly sheen; Off Huntingon Beach, CA
oil · ID 8442 · 33.582, -118.127
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On the evening of 09-May-2012, USCG Sector LA/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a cracked overflow pipe on Platform Elly (approx. 7.5NM off Huntingon Beach, CA) that was discharging a small amount of visible sheen. Release rate is reported as approximately 2-3 gallons per day and patching of the pipe is scheduled to commence early tomorrow morning. In the meantime, a precautionary (“what if”) trajectory estimate has been requested in the event the patching operations encounter difficulties.
- IncidentNews
M/V Pacific Sea adrift; Off Point Arena, CA
oil · ID 8433 · 38.755, -124.015
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At 2047 hours (Pacific) USCG Sector San Francisco contacted the NOAA SSC to request a drift estimate for the inbound M/V Pacific Sea, a 623 foot bulk cargo carrier that had lost propulsion and adrift approximately 17nm Southwest of Point Arena, CA. Attempts are presently underway to get her under tow. She is accompanied by a tow vessel and the USCG Cutter Sockeye. Sector San Francisco requested a drift estimate.
- IncidentNews
F/V Phyllis aground; South shore of Santa Cruz Island, CA
oil · ID 8364 · 33.987, -119.648
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On the morning of 27SEP2011, the F/V Phyllis ran aground on the south shore of Santa Cruz Island, CA, within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the Channel Islands National Park boundaries. The vessel is believed to be carrying approximately 300 gallons of diesel fuel on board; though no release has been observed at this time. USCG Sector LA/LB contacted their NOAA SSC and requested trajectory support.
- IncidentNews
F/V Midnight Hour; Approx 1nm off the West End of Santa Catalina Island, CA
oil · ID 8350 · 33.467, -118.625
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At approximately 2145hours (local) on 30AUG2011, the 61’ F/V Midnight Hour sank approximately 1nm off of Eagle Rock near the west End of Santa Catalina Island, CA. The vessel owner/operator reported that approximately 500 gallons of diesel were on-board, but the vessel had the capacity for up to 3,000 gallons. The vessel sank too quickly to provide an exact position and it is not known whether the vessel is leaking fuel at this time. However, USCG Sector LA/LB contacted their local NOAA SSC at 0213hrs on 31AUG2011 for trajectory support, to estimate the potential for shoreline impacts and to assist during their morning overflight of the area.
- IncidentNews
Sheen report; Off San Diego, CA
oil · ID 8330 · 32.612, -117.430
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During mid-morning of 29 June 2011, USCG Sector San Diego contacted the NOAA Hazmat Duty Officer about a 27mile sheen report offshore. Follow-up information indicated that the report had originated from a Customs & Border Patrol overflight at 0830hrs (Pacific) describing a 27mile by 1,000 foot feature that was “blue-gray” in color starting at 32deg 36.400N, 117deg 57.850W and continuing to 32deg 36.700N, 117deg 25.830W. A separate vessel report of a fuel smell in the vicinity was provided during the early afternoon. Sector San Diego requested NOAA trajectory support to direct an overflight at 1700hrs and to get a sense of approximate time and location of landfall, in the event the reported feature persists. NESDIS also obtained imagery from two satellite passes during the day that appeared consistent with an anomaly in the area.
- IncidentNews
Re-fueling plane crash; Point Mugu NAS, CA
oil · ID 8320 · 34.108, -119.133
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At approximately 1700hrs on 18MAY2011 a Boeing 707 military refueling airplane crashed at the end of the runway at Naval Air Station Point Mugu. All crewmembers survived and the aircraft burned for a number of hours. Initial reports indicated that none of the approx 25,000 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel on-board had reached the Ocean. The next morning it became apparent that some of the JP-8 had entered the marsh area adjacent to the crash site and at 0830hrs on 19MAY2011 product was observed in the tidal channel under L Avenue (approx 1/3 mile from crash site). Navy Region Southwest and USCG MSD Santa Barbara contacted the NOAA SSC to request information on oil persistence in the marsh complex and trajectory support.
- IncidentNews
F/V Kathy Ann; Avila Beach, CA
oil · ID 8306 · 35.162, -120.751
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On the morning of 30MAR2011, USCG Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Santa Barbara contacted their local NOAA SSC for trajectory support on a small potential diesel spill from a fishing vessel sunk near Avila Beach, CA. The F/V Kathy Ann is a 32foot steel-hulled vessel sunk in nearshore waters approximately 20-30feet deep at 35º 09.722’N, 120º 45.060’W. No pollution has yet been observed, but due to its location nearshore, the USCG requested a precautionary trajectory in the event of a minor release prior to or during salvage operations.
- IncidentNews
Javon Canyon spill hindcast request; San Buenaventura State Beach, Ventura, CA
oil · ID 8296 · 34.273, -119.288
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Late morning on 09MAR, USCG Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Santa Barbara contacted the Regional SSC requesting hindcast trajectory support for oil reported on San Buenaventura State Beach near Ventura, CA. The USCG and the State of California’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response (OSPR) had already been responding to a small pipeline release from the previous day that had been secured and undergoing shoreline cleanup near Javon Canyon, approximately 6miles upcoast. No recoverable oil had been observed by shoreworkers or from USCG overflight during yesterday’s reconnaissance and cleanup operations. The hindcast was requested to determine if the oil on San Buenaventura State Beach might be related to the Javon Canyon spill or from some other source (natural or otherwise).
- IncidentNews
Barge transfer accident; Goleta Point, CA
oil · ID 8264 · 34.407, -119.892
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The USCG requested an analysis of a small release near Goleta Point, CA. A Barge released an estimated 1 bbl of light crude (API 21) during a pumping operation. The origin of the spill was at location 34°24.45N 119°53.5W and the spill occurred at 0905. A slick or "pad" was observed at location 34°25.1192N--119°54.862W at 11:34. That location is about 1.3 nm up the coast to the west of the release location. We we asked if the observed "pad" could have come from that known release location, and where likely landfall from the release might be.
- IncidentNews
Platform Gail; East end of Santa B. Channel, Ca.
oil · ID 8259 · 34.126, -119.400
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At 1245 PDT a 1.5 (One and a half) bbl spill of an API 16 oil was reported.
- IncidentNews
Mystery sheen; 14nm off San Diego, CA
oil · ID 8231 · 32.583, -117.500
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A USCG helicopter reported a 2x2 mile sheen approximately 14 miles off Point Loma (32-35N 117-30W) at 0800-0830hrs on 16JUN2010. The reported location is near the US-Mexico border and the source is unknown. USCG Sector San Diego requested NOAA trajectory support.
- IncidentNews
F/V Pacific Bully; Santa Ana jetty, CA
oil · ID 8219 · 33.630, -117.961
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At approximately 0430hrs (local) on 20APR2010, the 58foot F/V Pacific Bully ran aground near the Santa Ana Jetty, south of Huntington Beach, CA with 600-700gallons of diesel and 40tons of sardines on board. No signs of pollution have been reported from overflights or by personnel on-scene and her tanks are being sounded regularly to monitor fuel levels. The NOAA SSC had been notified initially by USCG's D-11 Command Center. Subsequent discussions with USCG Sector LA/LB personnel resulted in a request for a oil fate & trajectory estimates as a precaution in the event the vessel cannot be removed during the afternoon's high tide.
- IncidentNews
F/V Betty K; 7 miles west of Half Moon Bay, CA
oil · ID 8213 · 37.500, -122.633
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USCG Coast Guard Sector San Francisco notified the NOAA SSC of the F/V Betty K that sank approximately 7nm west of Pillar Point (near Half Moon Bay, CA). She sank at 1425hrs (local time) with up to 300 gallons diesel fuel on board. A USCG vessel on-scene reported a 1000' sheen trailing to the south at 1445hrs (local time). Trajectory support was requested.
- IncidentNews
P/C Fire Fly; 1.7nm off Morro Bay, CA
oil · ID 8159 · 35.347, -120.898
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At 2340hrs on 25NOV2009, the 30’ P/C Fire Fly sank 1.7nautical miles off Morro Bay, CA in 150’ of water. USCG Sector LA/LB contacted the NOAA SSC and requested oil fate and trajectory support.
- IncidentNews
T/V Dubai Star; San Francisco, CA
oil · ID 8139 · 37.766, -122.341
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On October 30, 2009, NOAA ERD was notified of a bunkering (fueling) accident in San Francisco Bay from the DUBAI STAR, a Panamanian flagged tank ship. The incident occurred at 7:00 AM local time at San Francisco Bay Anchorage #9. An unknown amount of heavy fuel oil was released and a 1-mile long rainbow sheen was reported in the water. NOAA ERD has been requested to provide scientific support including spill trajectory modeling.
- IncidentNews
F/V Lady Frances; Santa Cruz Island, CA
oil · ID 8125 · 34.027, -119.540
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On the evening of 06OCT2009, Sector LA/LB notified NOAA ERD of a 32foot squid boat grounded near Smugglers Cove (Santa Cruz Island, CA) that is due for refloating and towing to Ventura Harbor. The F/V Lady Frances is carrying approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel on board and shows no sign of pollution. Sector LA/LB requested information on oil fate and trajectory in the event that a spill occurs during the estimated 12-14hr transit.
- IncidentNews
USS Wenonah; Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay, CA
oil · ID 8075 · 37.821, -122.361
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In the early afternoon of 17AUG2009, CA's Office of Spill Prevention & Response personnel notified the regional NOAA SSC of a diesel & waste oil release from a partially-sunken tugboat on the East side of Treasure Island in Central San Francisco Bay, CA causing an initial sheen of 200’x200’. No NOAA support was requested. By mid-afternoon, the vessel was surrounded by containment boom, no more sheen had been observed outside the boom and plans were being prepared to raise the vessel and remove the remaining fuel. The vessel’s maximum capacity was estimated at 10,000 gallons though on-scene observations indicated that she was probably carrying far less than that and 100-500 gallons may have been released. Sector San Francisco then contacted the NOAA SSC on 18AUG2009 stating that the vessel was continuing to release sheen and requested estimates of oil fate and extent.
Ordered by the date each record reports, newest first, 25 per page. Dates are California local time.
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