Spills

San juan, puerto rico

Barge Morris J. Berman; San Juan, Puerto Rico · NOAAORR-5034

issued
1994-01-07 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1994-01-21 00:00Z
self-cancels
1994-01-21 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
18.472, -66.090
vessels
BARGE MORRIS J BERMANBARGE MORRIS J BERMAN WENT
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

BARGE MORRIS J. BERMAN; San Juan, Puerto Rico.
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1. On January 7, 1994, the barge Morris J. Berman went aground in the surf zone off Escambron Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The barge grounded on a hard bottom consisting of rocky substrate with scattered coral after its towing cable parted. The barge had a capacity of three million gallons but was reportedly only half full. The cargo, a heavy #6 fuel oil, began spilling and impacted nearby shoreline and shallow intertidal habitats immediately. No estimated leakage rate was available. Due to strong northerly winds, the surf at the grounding site was quite strong creating a hazardous situation as they pounded the deck of the vessel. The responsible party initially assumed responsibility for the spill, but very quickly expended the ten million dollar limit of their insurance policy. Full federal funding of the spill occurred at 0600 on January 14 and it became a United States Coast Guard [...]
2. COMMODITY: # 6 FUEL OIL.
3. POSITION 18.472N 066.090W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 5034: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/5034

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