Automatic source timeline30 miles south of Eastern Long island, NYTimeline updated 15 Sept 2026

COIMBRA (RULET); 30 miles south of Eastern Long island, NY

NOAA initial notification: “On October 15, the East Hampton Star reported that a recreational diver came to the surface covered with oil after diving on the British tanker SS Coimbra, which was torpedoed during WWII (located approximately 20 miles south of Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, NY in about 150 […]”[1]

Follow the timeline Latest included source reportOriginal sources (5)

Latest included source report

Posted 8 May 2019

Latest source report

“News Release U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom Imagery Release: U.S. Coast Guard, partner agencies continue to assess Tanker Coimbra Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version. NEW LONDON, Conn – The […]” Current outcome is not independently verified by seahazards.[5]

NOAA report chronology

5 dated source records · 16 Oct 2009 to 8 May 2019
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NOAA incident record opened

Initial notification excerpt: “On October 15, the East Hampton Star reported that a recreational diver came to the surface covered with oil after diving on the British tanker SS Coimbra, which was torpedoed during WWII (located approximately 20 miles south of Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, NY in about 150 feet of water). Divers have reported sheens coming from the Coimbra for decades, but the article suggests that the leakage may be getting worse. Last Thursday, the USCG contacted Ed Levine, NOAA SSC for the region, to discuss the situation. It is expected that an interagency conference call will be held this week to determine whether an investigation to evaluate response options, is warranted. At the national level, ERD […]”

NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track

Initial incident area only. Dates are NOAA postings, not a vessel track. Playback advances every 5 seconds.

Milestone 1 of 5: 16 Oct 2009. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track

  1. NOAA incident record opened

    Initial notification excerpt: “On October 15, the East Hampton Star reported that a recreational diver came to the surface covered with oil after diving on the British tanker SS Coimbra, which was torpedoed during WWII (located approximately 20 miles south of Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, NY in about 150 feet of water). Divers have reported sheens coming from the Coimbra for decades, but the article suggests that the leakage may be getting worse. Last Thursday, the USCG contacted Ed Levine, NOAA SSC for the region, to discuss the situation. It is expected that an interagency conference call will be held this week to determine whether an investigation to evaluate response options, is warranted. At the national level, ERD […]”

    NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (40.387°, -72.357°)

    NOAA Office of Response and Restoration

  2. Press release on Coimbra underwater survey

    Source report excerpt: “News Release U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom Coast Guard to conduct underwater assessment of Tanker Coimbra NEW HAVEN, CT — The U. S. Coast Guard has contracted Resolve Marine to conduct an underwater assessment of the tanker Coimbra, from June 19th – 27th. Located approximately 30 miles southeast of Shinnecock, N.Y., the Coimbra was sunk during World War II by a German U-boat. The operation will assess the condition of the tanker and potential to have an environmental impact. During the assessment, boaters are requested to keep a safe […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  3. Survey postponed

    Source report excerpt: “News Release U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Sector Long Island Sound Public Affairs Officer Office: (203) 468-4433 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom Coast Guard postpones underwater assessment of tanker Coimbra NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard postponed an underwater assessment of the motor tanker Coimbra till the spring of 2019. The early start of the 2018 hurricane season and activity of hurricane Chris impacted logistics and raised safety concerns for the operation. “The safety of our personnel is one of our highest concerns in any mission we conduct,” said Capt. Kevin Reed, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  4. USCG Press Release

    Source report excerpt: “News Release U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom Coast Guard to conduct underwater assessment, possible oil removal operations on Coimbra NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard has contracted Resolve Marine Group to conduct a full assessment of oil remaining on the Coimbra wreck, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Shinnecock, N.Y. If substantial oil still remains, and if feasible, the Coast Guard will work with Resolve Marine Group to remove oil from the wreck in order to reduce pollution risks to the environment. The operation is […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  5. USCG Press Release May 8, 2019

    Source report excerpt: “News Release U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York Office: (212) 514-4291 After Hours: (917) 703-0983 PA Detachment New York online newsroom Imagery Release: U.S. Coast Guard, partner agencies continue to assess Tanker Coimbra Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version. NEW LONDON, Conn – The U.S. Coast Guard and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, along with contracted Resolve Marine Group, continue to assess the tanker Coimbra located approximately 30 miles southeast of Shinnecock, N.Y. Media interested in attending the press conference scheduled for Thursday morning at Station Fire […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive
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Details in the record

Source record
NOAA IncidentNews 8129[1]
Dated source updates
4[2][3][4][5]

Reading this account

Automatically assembled from NOAA's incident record and substantive Public Affairs or Situation Update posts. Dates are NOAA posting dates, which can differ from when events happened or original reports were published. Excerpts retain the source's wording and uncertainty. This account does not independently establish the cause, current outcome or safety of the area. NOAA coverage is selective; missing updates do not mean nothing happened. The map shows one approximate incident area, not a vessel track.

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Original sources

Timeline updated 15 Sept 2026. New reports and changes to this NOAA incident are incorporated automatically; this is not a live incident feed.

  1. 1.COIMBRA (RULET); 30 miles south of Eastern Long island, NY ↗NOAA Office of Response and Restoration · 16 Oct 2009
  2. 2.Press release on Coimbra underwater survey ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 13 Jun 2018
  3. 3.Survey postponed ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 11 Jul 2018
  4. 4.USCG Press Release ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 29 Apr 2019
  5. 5.USCG Press Release May 8, 2019 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 8 May 2019

Related records in our archive

Original source text, preserved separately from this account.

NOAAORR-8129 NOAA response record
COIMBRA (RULET); 30 miles south of Eastern Long island, NY.
30 miles south of Eastern Long island, NY.
1. On October 15, the East Hampton Star reported that a recreational diver came to the surface covered with oil after diving on the British tanker SS Coimbra, which was torpedoed during WWII (located approximately 20 miles south of Shinnecock Inlet, Long Island, NY in about 150 feet of water). Divers have reported sheens coming from the Coimbra for decades, but the article suggests that the leakage may be getting worse. Last Thursday, the USCG contacted Ed Levine, NOAA SSC for the region, to discuss the situation. It is expected that an interagency conference call will be held this week to determine whether an investigation to evaluate response options, is warranted. At the national level, ERD is developing an interagency agreement with the USCG under which the agencies will work together to address threats from vessels sunken off US shores that contain significant volumes of oil. The [...]
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: LUBE OIL, HEAVY FUEL OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 1300000 GALLONS. TAGS: HISTORIC WRECK.
3. POSITION 40.387N 072.357W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 8129: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/8129
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