Spills · collision

Galveston bay, texas

Burmah Agate; Galveston Bay, Texas · NOAAORR-6253

issued
1979-11-01 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1979-11-15 00:00Z
self-cancels
1979-11-15 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.295, -94.623
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Burmah Agate; Galveston Bay, Texas.
Galveston Bay, Texas.
1. On the morning of November 1, 1979, the Burmah Agate and the Mimosa collided at the entrance to Galveston Harbor. The Mimosa struck the Burmah Agate on its starboard side, tearing an 8 by 15 foot hole in the hull near Cargo Tank No. 5. An explosion occurred upon impact, and the leaking oil ignited. The USCG immediately dispatched the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant to begin search and rescue operations. By 1230 all 26 crew members of the Mimosa had been found, but only 6 of the Burmah Agate's 37 crew members were accounted for. The owners of the Burmah Agate assumed responsibility for the spill response. They contracted Clean Water, Inc. for cleanup operations, and Smit International Inc. to fight fires on the Burmah Agate, and to assist in salvage. The Burmah Agate burned until January 8, 1980 and was towed to Brownsville, Texas on February 1 for scrapping. USCG district 8. Keyword: [...]
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: NIGERIAN CRUDE, BLENDED CRUDE (HIGH NAPHTHA CONTENT). MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 10699962 GALLONS. TAGS: COLLISION.
3. POSITION 29.295N 094.623W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6253: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6253

This area · spills & pollution incidents

563 within 180 nm since 1973 · 13 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now

73
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · 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.