Spills
Southwest pass, mississippi river
Formosa Six; Southwest Pass, Mississippi River · NOAAORR-7195
- issued
- 1997-04-11 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1997-04-25 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1997-04-25 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 28.850, -89.433
- vessels
- M/V FLORA · 3 messagesTANKER FORMOSA SIX
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Formosa Six; Southwest Pass, Mississippi River. Southwest Pass, Mississippi River. 1. The chemical tanker Formosa Six was outbound from the Mississippi River on April 11, 1997, when, at approximately 2025, she collided with the freighter M/V Flora, resulting in a gash approximately 25 feet long, extending down to 10 feet below the waterline, releasing at least 125,000 gallons of ethylene dichloride (EDC). The Formosa Six's #6 port cargo tank was holed and the surrounding ballast tanks damaged. The high specific gravity of the product (1.253) caused it to quickly sink in 43 meters of water. After the collision, the Formosa Six moved approximately three miles to the east and anchored. Logistical constraints, the fact that product was trapped in the ballast tanks, foul weather, and the unavailability of a lightering vessel forced the Formosa Six to remain offshore until May 14. After lightering, repairs, and tank cleaning operations were completed, the vessel was allowed [...] 2. COMMODITY: 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 125000 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 28.850N 089.433W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7195: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7195
This area · spills & pollution incidents
1019 within 180 nm since 1970 · 35 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisiana2026-08-26
- 8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USA2026-08-24
- Mystery sheen at south pass 29; port eads, louisiana2026-08-13
- Wcc oil spill, main pass 21; breton sound, louisiana2026-06-11
- Tpic oil spill, main pass 81; gulf of america2026-06-10
- Oil spill from out-of-service tank at tpic main pass 69 facility; louisiana2026-05-19
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
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisianaSpills · 15.8 nm
- Uscg remote communication facility new orleans 29-53.00N 089-57.00W mf and hf dsc off airNav aids · 67.7 nm
- Survey operations in progress until 15 sep by M/V island pride, M/V sanco swift and M/V olympic artemis in…Surveys · 111.8 nm
- 8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USASpills · 113.8 nm
Worldwide now
8 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.