Spills · collision
Galeta island, canal zone, panama
Witwater; Galeta Island, Canal Zone, Panama · NOAAORR-6205
- issued
- 1968-12-13 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1968-12-27 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1968-12-27 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Caribbean Sea
- position
- 9.583, -80.667
- vessel
- TANKER WITWATER BROKE UP
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Witwater; Galeta Island, Canal Zone, Panama. Galeta Island, Canal Zone, Panama. 1. On December 13, 1968, the oil tanker Witwater broke up in heavy seas off the Atlantic coast of Panama. The breakup of the vessel, and continued leaking of the wreck spilled 14,000 barrels of Bunker C and diesel oil into the water 5 miles from Galeta Island. The oil eventually impacted Galeta Island. Keyword: Fire. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: DIESEL, BUNKER C. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 588000 GALLONS. TAGS: COLLISION. 3. POSITION 9.583N 080.667W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6205: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6205
This area · spills & pollution incidents
3 within 180 nm since 1968 · 0 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Starboard hand 4 buoy 09-23.52N 079-53.87W missingNav aids · 47 nm
- Port hand 3 buoy 09-23.52N 079-53.75W missingNav aids · 47.1 nm
- Manzanillo entrance west head light 09-22.90N 079-53.90W damagedNav aids · 47.1 nm
- Manzanillo entrance light 09-22.90N 079-53.90W temporarily changed to whiteNav aids · 47.1 nm
- Lm buoy 09-25.99N 079-49.78W missingNav aids · 50.4 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.