Incident Responses for November 2024

Posted Mon, 12/30/2024 - 13:44

Every month, NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration’s (OR&R) Emergency Response Division provides scientific expertise and services to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), ranging 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. We also receive 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.

So far this year, OR&R has responded to 162 incidents. During November, OR&R provided response support for 12 incidents. OR&R’s support for an allision between a barge and a bridge in Alabama continued from October 2024, while 11 new incidents were supported in six states, one territory (Puerto Rico), and one foreign country (Samoa). The vessel grounding incident in Samoa highlighted below occurred in October, but OR&R support was requested and began in November. Ten of the new incidents were actual or potential oil spills and one involved threat of chemical pollution from a mine tailing release. 

OR&R staff prepared 86 incident reports and documents, including one fate and trajectory analysis. Two of the incidents this month were unknown volumes, but nine of the incidents had volume estimates. Cumulatively, these incidents posed an approximate risk of more than 450,000 gallons of oil and chemicals.

(Note: All spill volumes are approximate and based on initial information that may be updated after further investigation.)

Here are some of the incidents we worked on during November:

Royal New Zealand Navy Ship Manawanui, Fire and Sinking; Samoa

When a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground, caught fire, and sank off the coast of Samoa, OR&R supported the National Response Team by providing technical assistance, resources, and expertise to address the challenges and mitigate environmental harm.

On October 5, the Royal New Zealand Navy diving and ocean-imaging vessel HMNZS Manawanui ran aground approximately one nautical mile off the south coast of Upolu, Samoa. The crew attempted to maneuver the ship off the reef but were not successful. Stability assessments conducted indicated that the vessel was no longer stable, so the ship was abandoned. All personnel were successfully evacuated with no serious injuries. The ship then caught fire before capsizing and sinking on the morning of October 6.

During this event, the vessel reportedly released approximately 53,000 gallons of diesel, with an additional 237,600 gallons remaining in sealed tanks. Sea conditions at the time of sinking were 25-knot winds and 3-meter waves. The loss of the Manawanui raised significant environmental concerns, as the vessel posed a potential threat to coastal ecosystems and marine life; however, there have been no significant environmental impacts noted to date.

This month, the Government of Samoa, through the U.S. National Response Team (NRT), requested technical assistance, resources, and expertise from the United States to allow them to conduct a thorough, independent, and effective salvage operation. The NRT identified a five-person Technical Assistance Team (TAT) with representatives from the USCG, OR&R, and the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) to virtually provide Samoa with technical assistance and expert review of lightering plans as a third-party, neutral assistance team. A November 20 request for the TAT from the Samoan government included oil trajectory modeling, review of fish sampling data, and review of lightering/salvage plans. NOAA’s Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for the Pacific Islands provided guidance on issues related to seafood safety and prepared to provide oil spill trajectory forecasting, if needed.

A salvage company that was contracted for the fuel removal operations is scheduled to begin work in December, with the pollutant removal work ongoing. The USCG sent a small team to Samoa to provide technical salvage and engineering expertise. Collaborations of this type not only help to address the immediate challenges and mitigate further environmental impacts, but also strengthen the collective, ongoing commitment of the two nations to environmental preservation and sustainability.

A vessel at sea.
A vessel in the ocean tilts on its side. Smoke is coming out of the vessel and it is surrounded by waves.
People aboard three small vessels collect materials left behind on a reef after a vessel was stranded.
A diver swims above the wreck of a vessel.

M/V Dubai Green at Puerto Rico Energy; San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico

OR&R provided information about cleaning vessels, shorelines, and structures after a fuel transfer spill at an energy facility in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico. 

On November 27, the Puerto Rico Energy Facility in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico experienced a spill of 25 barrels of fuel oil #6 (1050 gallons) during a transfer from the dock to the tanker vessel MV Dubai Green. An estimated 17-19 barrels (700-800 gallons) entered San Juan Harbor, under and around adjacent dock structures, and along the mostly rocky shoreline. Oil also coated the MV Dubai Green, a public boat ramp, and another adjacent vessel, the Mel Grace.

Video credit: U.S. Coast Guard via dvidshub.net.

To clean the vessels, shorelines, and structures, the responsible party had been using a non-approved surface washing agent. To assist in replacing that, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) provided information and other resources about approved surface washing agents and comparisons of toxicity. The SSC also outlined the recommended process for the responsible party to develop a plan, with assistance from an environmental unit or appropriate environmental contractor. The SSC also helped coordinate the responsible party with the Caribbean Regional Response Team—a multi-agency team that helps NOAA, USCG, and partners plan and be prepared for responses to spill events and the aftermath of storms in the Caribbean. Additional assistance coordinated through the Regional Response Team included reviewing cleanup plans, use of chemicals, and cleanup endpoints. 

Contaminated vessels have been cleaned and released by the Captain of the Port. Cleanup along shorelines and surrounding dock structures is ongoing.

Here is the complete list of November’s incidents. Click on the links to find out more: