Every month our Emergency Response Division provides scientific expertise and services to the U.S. Coast Guard on everything from running oil spill trajectories to model where the spill may spread, to possible effects on wildlife and fisheries and estimates on how long the oil may stay in the environment.
This month OR&R responded to 13 incidents in May, including oil discharges, grounded vessels, and other pollution-related incidents.
Here are some of May's notable incidents:
NOAA Provides Trajectory Assistance for Fishing Vessel Off Cape Cod
On May 3, the U.S. Coast Guard requested trajectory analysis for a fishing vessel that was taking on water 100 nautical miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The 98-foot F/V Nobska caught fire on April 30.
The crew were safely evacuated and efforts to tow the vessel back to port were initiated. However, it was found that the vessel began taking on water. The Coast Guard requested a trajectory analysis for approximately 9,000 gallons of diesel and small amounts of other engine oils. Dewatering of the Nobska was successful and the vessel was towed back to New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Offshore Supply Vessel Spills Diesel Fuel in Maurice River near Cape May, New Jersey
On May 12, the U.S. Coast Guard notified NOAA of a diesel fuel spill from an offshore supply vessel in the Maurice River near Cape May, New Jersey. The Coast Guard requested trajectory support for a maximum spill amount of 739 gallons from the M/V Bravos.
Responders deployed pollution boom to prevent further impacts and cleanup is underway. The cause of the spill remains under investigation. The Coast Guard observed during clean-up operations that other than some minimal, non-recoverable sheen, all the recoverable oil was collected.
Here is the complete list of last month’s incidents, click on the links to find out more:
- F/V Nobska
- Cooper River Mystery Sheen
- Gray whale carcass
- Fin whale carcasses
- MV BRAZOS oil spill, Maurice River
- Flooding, Buckland, AK
- M/V Toya Adrift
- M/V NYK DELPHINUS fire
- Crimson Midstream Piling Release
- Whale carcass
- MV Kite Bay
- Steamboat Creek, Norfolk, Virginia
- Sunken Fishing Vessel "Miss Kim"