Spills
Ponce, puerto rico
M/V Author; Ponce, Puerto Rico · NOAAORR-7331
- issued
- 1998-09-08 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1998-09-22 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1998-09-22 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Caribbean Sea
- position
- 17.938, -66.627
- vessel
- M/V AUTHOR · 2 messages
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
M/V Author; Ponce, Puerto Rico. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1. On September 8, 1998, the container ship M/V Author was hard aground on the south coast of Puerto Rico near Ponce. Onboard were 414 metric tons of diesel and 1979 metric tons of heavy fuel oil. No product was released when the grounding occurred. The vessel grounded approximately 1.5 miles off shore of very sensitive mangrove islands and shoreline. Winds were east at 10 knots, seas 2 to 3 feet. USCG district 7. Keyword: Corexit 9500. 2. COMMODITY: DIESEL, HEAVY FUEL OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 4800000 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 17.938N 066.627W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7331: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7331
This area · spills & pollution incidents
109 within 180 nm since 1968 · 2 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now
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- 6R9Q+8XF, mayagüez, 00682, puerto rico2026-07-16
- Barge defiant grounding; el morro national park, san juan, puerto rico2026-02-09
- Calle lindbergh despues blev2025-04-08
- P/v runaway grounded on coral reef; southwest of culebra, puerto rico2025-01-10
- San juan, puerto rico2024-11-30
- 151 judith way, christiansted, st croix 00820, usvi2024-08-15
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Timeline · 2 messages since 1998-09-08 · closed 1998-09-22
- Ponce, puerto rico this message1998-09-08 → 1998-09-22
- Ponce, puerto rico1998-09-08 → 1998-09-22
joined by proximity
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Cabo engano lighthouse 18-36.80N 068-19.50W unlitNav aids · 105 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.