Spills

San juan, puerto rico

Ocean Eagle; San Juan, Puerto Rico · NOAAORR-6202

issued
1968-03-03 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1968-03-17 00:00Z
self-cancels
1968-03-17 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
18.483, -66.167
vessel
TANKER OCEAN EAGLE · 2 messages
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Ocean Eagle; San Juan, Puerto Rico.
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1. On the morning of March 3, 1968, the tanker Ocean Eagle grounded in the harbor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The vessel broke in two several hours after the grounding, spilling Venezuelan light crude oil into the harbor. The aft section of the vessel drifted farther into the harbor and grounded, while the forward section was anchored in place. Three days later, U. S. Navy tugs tried to tow the forward section out of the harbor. Adverse weather hindered the operation, and eventually drove the forward section farther into the harbor. On March 10, the forward section broke open in heavy seas and released more oil into the water. By the first week of April, both parts of the tanker were lightered and towed out to sea where they were sunk. USCG district 7. Keyword: Sorbents, manual removal, emsulfier, sinking..
2. COMMODITY: VENEZUELAN LIGHT CRUDE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 2940000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 18.483N 066.167W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6202: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6202

This area · spills & pollution incidents

111 within 180 nm since 1968 · 2 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now

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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

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