Spills

Croix, US virgin islands

Hess Oil Refinery; Limetree Bay, St · NOAAORR-6732

issued
1989-09-22 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1989-10-06 00:00Z
self-cancels
1989-10-06 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Caribbean Sea
position
17.762, -64.791
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Hess Oil Refinery; Limetree Bay, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
Limetree Bay, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
1. On September 18, 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit the island of St. Croix with winds in excess of 140 miles per hour, severely damaging the Hess Oil Refinery in Limetree Bay, on the island's south coast. Twelve tanks were damaged; three of the twelve ruptured, spilling oil into their containment areas. Some number 6 fuel oil leaked into the north end of Limetree Bay in the Hess pier area, where it was held in by the weather conditions. Hess discovered the spill immediately after the passage of the hurricane. They responded with containment boom and recovery equipment. USCG district 7.
2. COMMODITY: NUMBER 6 FUEL OIL.
3. POSITION 17.762N 064.791W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6732: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6732

This area · spills & pollution incidents

111 within 180 nm since 1968 · 2 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now

68
70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Timeline · 3 messages since 1989-09-18 · closed 1989-10-06

  1. Croix, U.S1989-09-18 → 1989-10-02
  2. Storage tanks; port alucroix, limetree bay, st croix, US virgin islands1989-09-20 → 1989-10-04
  3. Croix, US virgin islands this message1989-09-22 → 1989-10-06

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 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.