Spills

San francisco, california

M/V Cape Mohican; San Francisco, California · NOAAORR-5004

issued
1996-10-28 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1996-11-11 00:00Z
self-cancels
1996-11-11 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
37.763, -122.382
vessel
M/V CAPE MOHICAN
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

M/V Cape Mohican; San Francisco, California.
San Francisco, California.
1. At about 1530, October 28, 1996, the M/V Cape Mohican, a 725-foot Maritime Administration (MORAD) vessel, discharged an estimated 1,950 barrels (about 81,000 gallons) of IFO 180. The discharge occurred while the vessel was in Drydock #2 of the San Francisco Drydock Shipyard at pier 70, San Francisco Bay. Most of the oil was retained within the drydock, with an estimated 200 barrels (about 8,000 gallons) released into the waters of San Francisco Bay. The discharge is believed to have resulted from transfer from a stabilization tank, where an open valve discharged stored fuel through a seachest. Weather at the time of release was winds south-southwest at about 14 knots and getting dark. The weather changed soon after, with winds increasing up to 25-knot gusts and heavy rain. USCG district 11. Keyword: containment boom.
2. COMMODITY: IFO 180. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 81000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 37.763N 122.382W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 5004: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/5004

This area · spills & pollution incidents

246 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

71
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

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.