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
This area · spills & pollution incidents
604 within 180 nm since 1973 · 15 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now
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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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