Spills · grounding

Palmer station, antarctica

M/V Bahia Paraiso; Palmer Station, Antarctica · NOAAORR-6658

issued
1989-01-28 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1989-02-11 00:00Z
self-cancels
1989-02-11 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Southern Ocean
position
-64.783, -64.100
vessel
M/V BAHIA PARAISO
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

M/V Bahia Paraiso; Palmer Station, Antarctica.
Palmer Station, Antarctica.
1. On January 28, 1989, the 4,325-foot Argentine Navy transport BAHIA PARAISO, ran aground on rocks two miles from the U.S. scientific base at Palmer Station, Antarctica, and immediately began leaking oil into this pristine ecological environment. The transport was carrying fuel to resupply an Argentine station in Antarctica when it grounded and gashed a 30-foot hole in its double hull. National Science Foundation scientists reported that the oil floating ashore had already begun to kill krill, small, shrimplike crustaceans which are a major part of the diet of the whales that visit Antarctica in the winter. The oil also affected gulls, giant petrels, penguins, and possibly other wildlife near the station. The 234 crew members and 81 tourists were removed from the grounded vessel and taken to Palmer Station.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: DIESEL FUEL ARCTIC (DFA). MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 3770 GALLONS. TAGS: GROUNDING.
3. POSITION 64.783S 064.100W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6658: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6658

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