Spills · mystery_substance
Offshore galveston jetties, tx
Mystery Slick; Offshore Galveston Jetties, Tx · NOAAORR-1088
- issued
- 2003-08-18 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 2003-09-01 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 2003-09-01 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 29.083, -94.607
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Mystery Slick; Offshore Galveston Jetties, TX. Offshore Galveston Jetties, TX. 1. During the afternoon of 18 August 2003, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified by USCG MSU Galveston of a mystery slick off the Texas Coast. The slick was reported as "chocolate mousse-like" and extending some 5 miles with an approximate location of 29 deg 05 min N Lat. 094 deg 36.4 min W Long., some 15 miles off the Texas coast. Although the USCG didn't suggest a possible source, the description of the slick and the proximity to the vessel traffic lanes are consistent with a ship transiting the area and pumping bilge. The USCG requested trajectory assistance. A follow-up overflight, on the evening of 18 August by training observers, defined the mystery slick as being a debris line composed primarily of Sargasso weed. No additional response actions were required. 2. THREAT: OIL. TAGS: MYSTERY SUBSTANCE. 3. POSITION 29.083N 094.607W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 1088: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/1088
This area · spills & pollution incidents
563 within 180 nm since 1973 · 13 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now
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- Intermittent oil sheen; flower garden banks national marine sanctuary, bright bank2026-08-25
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- On april 27, 2026, the U.S2026-04-27
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Nearby now · within 120 nm
Worldwide now
8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all
Spills
Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →
Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.