Spills · collision

M/V mega borg; gulf of mexico, 57 miles se of galveston, texas

NOAAORR-6748

issued
1990-06-08 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1990-06-22 00:00Z
self-cancels
1990-06-22 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
28.550, -94.133
vessel
M/V MEGA BORG
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

M/V Mega Borg; Gulf of Mexico, 57 miles SE of Galveston, Texas.
Gulf of Mexico, 57 miles SE of Galveston, Texas.
1. On June 8, 1990 at approximately 2330, while the Italian tank vessel Fraqmura was lightering the Norwegian tank vessel Mega Borg, an explosion occurred in the pump room of the Mega Borg. The two ships were in the Gulf of Mexico, 57 miles southeast of Galveston Texas in international waters, but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone. As a result of the explosion, a fire started in the pump room and spread to the engine room. An estimated 100,000 barrels of Angolan Palanca crude was burned or released into the water from the Mega Borg during the next seven days. Approximately 238 barrels of oil was discharged when the Fraqmura intentionally broke away from the Mega Borg. Explosions on the Mega Borg, caused the stern of the ship began to settle lower in the water and list to the port side. A continuous discharge of burning oil flowed over the aft port quarter of the ship. Less than an [...]
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: ANGOLAN PALANCA CRUDE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 4200000 GALLONS. TAGS: COLLISION.
3. POSITION 28.550N 094.133W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6748: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6748

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