Spills
Bayou lafousche /barge pc 2901; upper galveston bay, houston ship channel, texas
NOAAORR-6217
- issued
- 1973-03-09 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1973-03-23 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1973-03-23 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 29.633, -94.967
- vessels
- BARGE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITYBARGE HELD
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Bayou Lafousche /Barge PC 2901; Upper Galveston Bay, Houston Ship Channel, Texas. Upper Galveston Bay, Houston Ship Channel, Texas. 1. On March 9, 1973 at approximately 1326, the tank vessel T/V Mayo Lykes collided with the Bayou Lafousche/Barge PC 2901. The bow of the T/V Mayo Lykes, penetrated the port bow of the barge at a 45-60 degree angle, and almost cut the barge in two. Only the starboard outer skin of the barge held the vessel together. A large quantity of the 23,000 barrels of Louisiana crude oil and Bunker C spilled into the water upon impact. Later estimates reported 10,000 barrels of pollutant spilled into the water. Part of the spilled amount was released in the collision while the remainder leaked from the damaged tanks over the next several days. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were extremely adverse. Extensive fog, winds of 30-35 knots with 40 knot gusts, and seas of 3-4 feet hampered early containment attempts. Since the owner and operator of the damaged barge denied any responsibility [...] 2. COMMODITY: LOUISIANA CRUDE, BUNKER C. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 420000 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 29.633N 094.967W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6217: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6217
This area · spills & pollution incidents
515 within 180 nm since 1973 · 13 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now
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- Intermittent oil sheen; flower garden banks national marine sanctuary, bright bank2026-08-25
- Release of aluminum phosphide in M/V thorco liva; port arthur, texas2026-07-28
- Mystery oiled shoreline at holly beach; cameron parish, louisiana2026-07-10
- Johnson bayou, la2026-06-17
- 2726 gillespie, crystal beach, tx 77650, USA2026-05-16
- On april 27, 2026, the U.S2026-04-27
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Nearby now · within 120 nm
Nothing else in force within 120 nm.
Worldwide now
7 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.