Spills

Mystery Slick1; point montara, california

NOAAORR-6532

issued: 1987-12-10 00:00Z
status: cancelled 1987-12-24 00:00Z
self-cancels: 1987-12-24 00:00Z
authority: NOAA OR&R
sea: North Pacific Ocean
position: 37.535, -122.558
source: incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Slick1; Point Montara, California.
Point Montara, California.
1. On December 10, 1987, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Alameda, was notified that a passing fishing vessel had been oiled by a slick measuring 2.5 miles long by about .5 miles wide. The Coast Guard dispatched a vessel to the location of the slick, 2.5 miles west of Point Montara, approximately 15 miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge. USCG district 12.
2. COMMODITY: OIL.
3. POSITION 37.535N 122.558W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6532: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6532

This area · spills & pollution incidents

248 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USA2026-08-30
32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USA2026-08-21
J444+RW monterey, ca, USA2026-08-13
1809 sunset dr, pacific grove, ca 93950, USA2026-08-07
R685+56 moss landing, ca, USA2026-08-07
841 w brannan island rd, isleton, ca 95641, USA2026-07-31

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

month of issue, all years in the archive

Timeline · 8 messages since 1987-10-30 · closed 1988-01-18

San francisco, california1987-10-30 → 1987-11-13
Tung tai enterprises; pier 96, san francisco, california1987-10-30 → 1987-11-13
San leandro, california1987-11-05 → 1987-11-19
At 1407 on december 2, 1987, U.S1987-12-02 → 1987-12-16
Half moon bay, california1987-12-06 → 1987-12-20
Mystery Slick1; point montara, california this message1987-12-10 → 1987-12-24
On december 16, 1987 at 1404 pst the san francisco ssc was notified that a dark black slick had been sighted…1987-12-16 → 1987-12-30
On january 4, 1988, approximately 100 gallons of hexamethylenimine was spilled during transfer of a marine…1988-01-04 → 1988-01-18

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 nm

32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 37.9 nm
1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 57 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.