Satellite Detection of Mystery Sheens; Howell Hook, Gulf of America

76QQ5XGR+MW | 2026-Aug-11

Initial Notification: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector St Petersburg, Florida inquired about sheens reported by NESDIS (NOAA's satellite office, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) and other observations near the southern extent of their area of responsibility in the Gulf (130 nm WNW of Key West, Florida). The location of these sheens is in the vicinity of two RULET vessels (Remediation of Underwater Legacy Environmental Threats; a database of potentially polluting sunken ships): the Norlindo and the Cudahy. Both vessels were documented as having heavy fuel oil (HFO, or "bunker") onboard. NOAA's Emergency Response Division has coordinated with NESDIS to assess the anomalies and forecast sheen movement and fate and effects of an HFO release that may occur or continue to sheen at the identified location.