Tug John A. Downs; East Long Island Sound

East Long Island Sound | 1985-Mar-04

Initial Notification: INCIDENT SUMMARY ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 4, 1985 THE 113 FOOT TUG, JOHN A DOWNS, WITH 3 BARGES IN TOW BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER. THE EMPTY BARGES WERE CUT LOOSE BUT THE VESSEL CONTINUED TO FLOUNDER. THE CREW OF 13 ABANDONED SHIP AND WERE RESCUED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD. ALL THREE BARGES WERE TAKEN IN TOW BY OTHER VESSELS. . ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 5 AN OIL SLICK WAS SIGHTED DURING LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS FROM A BUOY MARKED "2A" ON NOAA CHART 13211. THE MOST RECENT NUMBER FOR THIS BUOY IS "4" LOCATED AT 41 DEGREES 15.5 MIN NORTH LAT. AND 72 DEGREES 08.5 MIN WEST LONG. THE SLICK IS REPORTED TO EXTEND TO THE SOUTH WEST FOR 3/4 OF A MILE. NO WIDTH CAN BE OBSERVED. . THE JOHN A DOWNS IS REPORTED TO HAVE 50,000 GALLONS OF #2 FUEL OIL AND 1,000 GALLONS OF LUBE OIL ON BOARD. . USCG district 1.