Spills · oil

Chesapeake bay, virginia

Hopper Barge; Chesapeake Bay, Virginia · NOAAORR-6802

issued
1991-04-12 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1991-04-26 00:00Z
self-cancels
1991-04-26 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
37.584, -76.335
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Hopper Barge; Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
1. On April 12, 1991, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Hampton Roads was notified that a 195-foot hopper barge was taking on water near the mouth of the Rappahannock River in Chesapeake Bay. The barge was carrying approximately 1,637 tons of ammonium sulfate, an ingredient in commercial fertilizers. On-scene USCG responders reported that the barge had sunk by the stern and that stern was on the bottom in 28 feet of water; the bow was approximately 35 feet above the water, but sinking; and ammonium sulfate was leaking into the bay. USCG district 5.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: AMMONIUM SULFATE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 3270000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 37.584N 076.335W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6802: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6802

This area · spills & pollution incidents

389 within 180 nm since 1972 · 6 in the last 12 months · 0 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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