Spills

Kiptopeke concrete ships, potential impact assessment; kiptopeke beach, cape charles, virginia

NOAAORR-6853

issued
1991-12-12 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1991-12-26 00:00Z
self-cancels
1991-12-26 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
37.167, -76.000
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Kiptopeke Concrete Ships, Potential Impact Assessment; Kiptopeke Beach, Cape Charles, Virginia.
Kiptopeke Beach, Cape Charles, Virginia.
1. Approximately a quarter of a mile from the shoreline of Kiptopeke Beach, Cape Charles, on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, nine concrete ships containing bunker oil form a breakwater. In October 1991 the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Hampton Roads directed that oil in at least five of these vessels be removed. In late October 1991, when weather permitted, International Marine Services (IMS) began pumping operations. Access to the oil in the concrete vessels' tanks was precarious because the vessels' decks had severely deteriorated leaving reinforcing rods and large holes exposed. USCG district 5. Keyword: none.
2. COMMODITY: RESIDUAL BUNKER OILS.
3. POSITION 37.167N 076.000W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6853: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6853

This area · spills & pollution incidents

384 within 180 nm since 1975 · 6 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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.