Spills

Eleuthera island, bahamas

General Colocotronis; Eleuthera Island, Bahamas · NOAAORR-6203

issued
1968-03-07 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1968-03-21 00:00Z
self-cancels
1968-03-21 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
25.333, -76.333
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

General Colocotronis; Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.
Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.
1. On March 7, 1968, the Greek tank vessel General Colocotronis ran aground on the east side of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. The vessel was loaded with approximately 119,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil. The hull was severely damaged during the grounding causing the vessel to spill approximately 37,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean at a location one and one-half miles offshore. Approximately 72,500 barrels of oil were pumped from the vessel into another tanker, the Esso Margarita. Steam lines were rigged to heat the cargo to facilitate pumping. Moving the salvage vessels into position and offloading the remaining cargo was performed during extremely severe weather. Dive surveys reported that the keel was crushed and buckled and that there was extensive damage to the hull of the vessel. Salvage and response personnel decided that the only feasible action was to sink the [...]
2. COMMODITY: VENEZUELAN CRUDE OIL, DIESEL FUEL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 1550000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 25.333N 076.333W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6203: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6203

This area · spills & pollution incidents

4 within 180 nm since 1968 · 0 in the last 12 months · 0 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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