Spills

San francisco bay, california

T/v Command; San Francisco Bay, California · NOAAORR-5012

issued
1998-09-24 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1998-10-08 00:00Z
self-cancels
1998-10-08 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
37.750, -122.333
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

T/V Command; San Francisco Bay, California.
San Francisco Bay, California.
1. On September 28, 1998, a USCG overflight identified an oil slick approximately 10 nm offshore San Francisco Bay northwest of Point San Pedro. The mystery slick (later identified as the result of a faulty fuel transfer aboard the T/V Command) contained streamers of black oil, mousse, and sheens. On September 29 NOAA sent a team on-scene. By October 2 very little recoverable oil or tarballs were seen during the overflight and the FOSC released the NOAA team. Tarballs had impacted Pillar Point, Pomponio Beach, Air Force Beach, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, and San Gregorio Beach and cleanup crews had been dispatched to continue the cleanup. Impacts to Wildlife: Impacts to wildlife, especially birds were reported by the International Bird Rescue and Research Center. They reported that Common Murres (52 live/ 36 dead), Glaucous-winged Western Gull Hybrid (1/0), Greater White-fronted Goose [...]
2. COMMODITY: IBF 380.
3. POSITION 37.750N 122.333W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 5012: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/5012

This area · spills & pollution incidents

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

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Timeline · 3 messages since 1998-09-24 · closed 1998-10-12

  1. Anchorage #9; san francisco, ca1998-09-24 → 1998-10-08
  2. San francisco bay, california this message1998-09-24 → 1998-10-08
  3. San francisco, ca1998-09-28 → 1998-10-12

joined by proximity

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.