Spills

M/V president madison; west duwamish waterway seattle, washington

NOAAORR-6851

issued
1991-12-08 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1991-12-22 00:00Z
self-cancels
1991-12-22 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
The Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia
position
47.583, -122.362
vessel
M/V PRESIDENT MADISON
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

M/V President Madison; West Duwamish Waterway Seattle, Washington.
West Duwamish Waterway Seattle, Washington.
1. At 1840 on December 8, 1991, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Puget Sound received a report of black oil in Elliott Bay coming from the motor vessel President Madison. Pollution investigators responded, but were unable to confirm the report in the dark. The following morning, recoverable oil was located along the west shore of the West Duwamish Waterway and a medium to heavy rainbow sheen extended out into Elliott Bay. Investigation into the cause of the spill indicated that the President Madison began deballasting operations at 1600 on December 8 while tied up at Terminal 5 on the West Duwamish Waterway. Unknown to vessel personnel, bunker oil was in the ballast and an estimated 500 gallons was subsequently discharged into the waterway. Approximately one-quarter mile of shoreline, consisting mostly of concrete-block riprap and commercial piers, was impacted. A [...]
2. COMMODITY: OIL.
3. POSITION 47.583N 122.362W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6851: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6851

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