Spills

Monterey bay, ca

Mystery Spill Off Monterey Bay; Monterey Bay, Ca · NOAAORR-7343

issued
1998-10-07 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1998-10-21 00:00Z
self-cancels
1998-10-21 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
36.668, -122.203
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Spill off Monterey Bay; Monterey Bay, CA.
Monterey Bay, CA.
1. On October 7, 1998 at 1250 PDT, a mariner reported a stripe of black oil at 36 degrees 40.08 minutes N, 122 degrees 12.17 minutes W. At 1347 PDT, a USCG overflight observer reported an oil slick extending from 36 degrees 40.08 minutes N, 122 degrees 12.17 minutes W to 36 degrees 54.2 minutes N, 122 degrees 22.3 minutes W. The air crew estimated the slick was approximately 2 feet wide and contained light brown oil that looked like "chocolate pudding". A transparent sheen was observed on both sides of the brown oil. No tarballls were reported. The aircraft altitude was 75 feet. On-scene winds were from the southwest at about 5 knots. At this time, the source of the spill is unknown. USCG district 11.
2. COMMODITY: OIL.
3. POSITION 36.668N 122.203W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7343: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7343

This area · spills & pollution incidents

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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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