Spills · chemical

Sun drilling divinylbenzene tank fire; belle chasse, la, miss r. MM-67

NOAAORR-8493

issued
2012-08-17 00:00Z
status
cancelled 2012-08-31 00:00Z
self-cancels
2012-08-31 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.858, -89.983
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Sun Drilling Divinylbenzene tank fire; Belle Chasse, LA, Miss R. MM-67.
Belle Chasse, LA, Miss R. MM-67.
1. USCG Sector New Orleans contact the NOLA NOAA SSC at approximately 1600EDT, 17Aug12 for assistance with safety and environmental hazards associated with a burning tank containing divinylbenzene (DVB) at the Sun Drilling Chemical Plant in Belle Chasse, LA, that had been struck by lightning. The facility is adjacent to the Mississippi River at mile marker 67, on the right decending bank, and just up river 600 m from the Belle Chasse ferry landing. Initial safety distances were provided and fate of chemical in the event any entered the reiver were provided. DVB is a highly volatile and ignitable liquid that polymerizes (becomes a plastic like solid) unless stabilized with chemicals to keep it a liquid. It is insoluble, floats, and will generally evaporate, but may polymerize if it persists. No DVB had entered the river and was not expected to as of Friday evening, 17Aug. NOAA was contacted [...]
2. THREAT: CHEMICAL. COMMODITY: DIVINYLBENZENE.
3. POSITION 29.858N 089.983W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 8493: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/8493

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1074 within 180 nm since 1970 · 36 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

70
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

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.