Spills

Unknown oil Spill1; off grand isle, louisiana

NOAAORR-6693

issued
1989-04-22 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1989-05-06 00:00Z
self-cancels
1989-05-06 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.235, -89.939
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Unknown Oil Spill1; Off Grand Isle, Louisiana.
Off Grand Isle, Louisiana.
1. On the morning of April 22, 1989, an oil spill was reported off Grand Isle, Louisiana. At 0920 helicopter reports indicated that the slick, which measured approximately eight miles long and 1-1/2 miles wide, was about 21 nautical miles south of Grand Isle. Subsequent reports from a Conoco oil platform air dispatcher indicated that the slick was oriented along an east-west axis and that it contained patches of dark "pudding-like" oil and silver to rainbow sheen. A Coast Guard overflight confirmed the sighting and reported that the slick was moving west and appeared to be breaking up. A Coast Guard vessel passing through the area described the material as somewhat stringy. USCG district 8.
2. COMMODITY: OIL.
3. POSITION 29.235N 089.939W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6693: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6693

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1056 within 180 nm since 1970 · 35 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

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Timeline · 2 messages since 1989-04-22 · closed 1989-05-06

  1. Mystery oil Spill5; grande isle, louisiana1989-04-22 → 1989-05-06
  2. Unknown oil Spill1; off grand isle, louisiana this message1989-04-22 → 1989-05-06

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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

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