Spills
Mystery oil Slick3; san francisco, california
NOAAORR-6730
- issued
- 1989-09-20 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1989-10-04 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1989-10-04 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 37.799, -122.391
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Mystery Oil Slick3; San Francisco, California. San Francisco, California. 1. On September 20, 1989, the U.S. Park Service Police discovered approximately 30 globules of oil on the beaches along the Marin Headlands. The police notified the U.S. Coast Guard and a 41-foot patrol boat was dispatched from Yerba Buena Island. The Coast Guard observed oil concentrations of twelve extremely weathered tar balls per 50 square yards in a seven- mile by three-mile stretch of area less than one half mile off the San Francisco coastline near the Golden Gate Bridge. The largest concentrations were on the beach north of the Golden Gate Bridge. USCG district 1. 2. COMMODITY: OIL. 3. POSITION 37.799N 122.391W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6730: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6730
This area · spills & pollution incidents
246 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
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- 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
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Timeline · 2 messages since 1989-09-20 · closed 1989-10-04
- Mystery oil Slick3; san francisco, california this message1989-09-20 → 1989-10-04
- Mystery oil Slick4; san francisco, california1989-09-20 → 1989-10-04
joined by proximity
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 32.3 nm
- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 65.9 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.