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
260 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
71
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26
- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USA2026-08-30
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USA2026-08-21
- J444+RW monterey, ca, USA2026-08-13
- 1809 sunset dr, pacific grove, ca 93950, USA2026-08-07
- R685+56 moss landing, ca, USA2026-08-07
- 841 w brannan island rd, isleton, ca 95641, USA2026-07-31
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
- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 21.8 nm
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 92 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.