Every month, NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration’s (OR&R) Emergency Response Division provides scientific expertise and services in support of spills and other coastal and ocean emergencies. Our support ranges from producing oil spill trajectories that estimate where a spill may spread; to identifying possible effects on wildlife and fisheries; to estimating how long oil may stay in the environment. This support is to the U.S. Coast Guard as the federal lead for coastal zone spills, and also assists other Unified Command members including state and industry leads for response operations. OR&R also receives requests to track and model other floating objects, such as log booms or shipping containers that have broken free, whale carcasses, fish die-offs, and algal blooms.
From January to May, 2025, OR&R responded to 79 incidents. In May, OR&R provided response support for ten incidents, including eight new incidents in four states and one territory. Six of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills, one was a chemical spill—caustic soda solution released from a flipped barge—and one involved flares observed off Guam with no associated missing vessel or person reports. OR&R staff prepared 43 incident reports and documents, including two fate and trajectory analyses.
Here is one of the notable incidents that occurred during May:
Sinking FV Captain Raleigh Discharging Diesel; Grays Harbor, Washington
OR&R provided fate and trajectory analyses after a 68-foot fishing vessel capsized and sank in Grays Harbor, Washington.
On May 9, the National Response Center advised OR&R of a diesel discharge into Grays Harbor, Washington from the 68-foot fishing vessel Captain Raleigh. The vessel capsized and sank mid-channel as it was transiting into Westport, Washington in approximately 45 feet of water. The Coast Guard conducted search and rescue operations, rescuing three crew; however, the vessel’s captain was not recovered.
OR&R provided an initial fate and trajectory analysis. Fuel capacity of the vessel was reported to be 5,000 gallons of diesel, with other lubricants on board. Oil sheen was observed moving west of the vessel’s location. The Coast Guard conducted overflights for several days to assess oil sheen direction and potential impacts.
OR&R provided an initial fate and trajectory analysis. Fuel capacity of the vessel was reported to be 5,000 gallons of diesel, with other lubricants on board. Oil sheen was observed moving west of the vessel’s location. The Coast Guard conducted overflights for several days to assess oil sheen direction and potential impacts.
Several factors complicated dive and salvage operations, which included inspecting and plugging the vessel’s fuel vents to minimize the release of oil. Two 140-foot shrimp nets tangled in the vessel’s rigging made diving around the vessel dangerous, requiring their removal. Strong currents also limited dives on the vessel to the end of the tides, sometimes allowing only two or three hour-long dives per day. The currents grew stronger with the larger tides. Additionally, weather and sea conditions in Grays Harbor caused the sunken vessel to move a short distance and shift position in the bay.
Responders from Washington State Department of Ecology assessed shorelines and hired a wildlife emergency response contractor to perform a wildlife assessment. There were concerns about impacts to snowy plover, a federally threatened and state endangered shorebird in Washington State that nests directly on the beach sand. During the response, the wildlife contractor did observe wildlife in the area; however, no impacts to snowy plover or other wildlife were reported.
Both the commercial and recreational fishing season was in full swing and there was a considerable amount of vessel traffic in the area. Information that was collected about marine life was used to inform agencies regarding upcoming razor clam digs. The Coast Guard notified local shellfish growers and area businesses, and placed a 200-yard-radius safety zone around the sinking location and salvage operations.
A salvage plan is being developed and there is no definitive timeline for when lift operations will begin.
Here is the complete list of May's incidents. Click on the links to find out more:
- Vessel Sinking in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary; near Cape Flattery, Washington
- Sunken Vessel, Western Channel; Sitka, Alaska
- Flipped Barge with Caustic Soda Cargo; East Carondelet, Illinois
- Overflow of TPIC Tank at Romere Pass Facility; Boothville-Venice, Louisiana
- Flares Observed; Guam
- Well Discharge, Lobo Operating Grand Bay; Venice, Louisiana
- Asphalt Discharge into Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal; Forest View, Illinois
- Sinking FV Captain Raleigh Discharging Diesel; Grays Harbor, Washington