Spills
T/b ocean 255; sarasota, florida
NOAAORR-6791
- issued
- 1991-02-15 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1991-03-01 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1991-03-01 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 27.295, -83.003
- vessels
- BARGE APPEARSBARGE NUMBER
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
T/B OCEAN 255; Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota, Florida. 1. At approximately 0800 EST a barge carrying 255,000 barrels of diesel and gasoline broke free from its tow at location 27 17.7 N, 83 00.2 W. That location is approx. 25 miles west of Sarasota, FL. The barge number is 255 and is approx 500 feet in length. The barge appears to be undamaged but is riding low in the water with waves breaking onto the deck. On-scene weather is reported as winds from the WNW at 40 kts with seas of 10-12 feet. Attempts to secure the vessel have been hampered by the prevailing weather conditions. The Coast Guard Strike Team has been called in. Predictions based on the observed drift indicate that the barge will enter 10 fathom water at approximately midnight EST 2/16. NOAA SSC, Gary Van Den Berg is enroute to Tampa to assist the Coast Guard. MASS has been notified and is providing trajectory support as required. USCG district 7. 2. COMMODITY: DIESEL, GASOLINE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 10700000 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 27.295N 083.003W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6791: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6791
This area · spills & pollution incidents
155 within 180 nm since 1978 · 3 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now
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- Satellite detection of mystery sheens; howell hook, gulf of america2026-08-11
- Potential mystery oil source; 100 miles off key west, florida2026-06-25
- Petersburg, fl, USA2025-10-21
- Potential discharge from 60-foot sailboat; cape canaveral, florida2025-06-28
- F/V miss jodie ashore, flagler beach, south of st augustine, florida2025-04-14
- 3601 nw s river dr, miami, fl 33142, USA2025-03-07
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Nearby now · within 120 nm
Nothing else in force within 120 nm.
Worldwide now
7 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.