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
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- Intermittent oil sheen; flower garden banks national marine sanctuary, bright bank2026-08-25
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- 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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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.