Spills

Mystery oil spill, block island sound; block island sound, rhode island

NOAAORR-6297

issued
1985-11-03 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1985-11-17 00:00Z
self-cancels
1985-11-17 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
41.286, -71.635
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Oil Spill, Block Island Sound; Block Island Sound, Rhode Island.
Block Island Sound, Rhode Island.
1. On the morning of November 3, 1985, a spill of heavy black oil, extending two miles south of the jetty at Old Harbor to Southeast Point on Block Island, was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard. The impacted area was described as being a 4-foot wide strip along the beach and a 25-yard strip in the water at the edge of the surf zone. USCG district 1.
2. COMMODITY: HEAVY BLACK OIL.
3. POSITION 41.286N 071.635W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6297: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6297

This area · spills & pollution incidents

540 within 180 nm since 1972 · 11 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

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month of issue, all years in the archive

Timeline · 20 messages since 1985-06-26 · closed 1986-01-05

  1. Spartina marsh asphalt spill; barnstable harbor, cape cod bay, ma1985-06-26 → 1985-07-10
  2. Buzzards bay, ma1985-07-12 → 1985-07-26
  3. Woods hole, ma1985-07-12 → 1985-07-26
  4. Buzzards bay, ma1985-07-13 → 1985-07-27
  5. Cuttyhunk island, ma1985-07-28 → 1985-08-11
  6. Fall river, ma1985-07-28 → 1985-08-11
  7. Watch pond, martha's vinyard, ny1985-07-31 → 1985-08-14
  8. Tanker lost 2 barrels; narragansett bay, ma1985-09-09 → 1985-09-23
  9. Aushnet river, ma1985-09-26 → 1985-10-10
  10. Wilkes ledge, buzzards bay, massachusetts1985-10-30 → 1985-11-13
  11. M/V sunbird aground in buzzards bay; wilkes ledge, buzzards bay, ma1985-10-30 → 1985-11-13
  12. Block island, ri1985-11-02 → 1985-11-16
  13. Mystery oil spill, block island sound; block island sound, rhode island this message1985-11-03 → 1985-11-17
  14. Buzzards bay, massachusetts1985-11-14 → 1985-11-28
  15. Buzzards bay, ma1985-11-14 → 1985-11-28
  16. Davisville, rhode island1985-11-19 → 1985-12-03
  17. E-24; block island sound, fishers island, new york1985-11-22 → 1985-12-06
  18. Barge e-24 long island sound; long island sound, ny1985-11-22 → 1985-12-06
  19. Vessel sinking in rhode island sound with 2000 gallons of diesel on board.1985-12-13 → 1985-12-27
  20. T/b E-24; "the race," long island sound, fishers island, new york1985-12-22 → 1986-01-05

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Nothing else in force within 120 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.