Spills

Mystery oil Slick4; san francisco, california

NOAAORR-6731

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: 37.823, -122.496
source: incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Oil Slick4; 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. A 41-foot patrol boat was dispatched from Yerba Buena Island. The Coast Guard observed oil concentrations of 12 extremely weathered tar balls per 50-square yards in a 7-by-3 mile stretch of area less than one half a 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 11.
2. COMMODITY: UNKNOWN OIL.
3. POSITION 37.823N 122.496W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6731: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6731

This area · spills & pollution incidents

244 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 · 2 messages since 1989-09-20 · closed 1989-10-04

Mystery oil Slick3; san francisco, california1989-09-20 → 1989-10-04
Mystery oil Slick4; san francisco, california this message1989-09-20 → 1989-10-04

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 nm

32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 27.3 nm
1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 69.5 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.