T/B Peter Hearne; Hudson River, New York

Hudson River, New York | 1987-Feb-17

Initial Notification: The grounding of the tank barge Peter Hearne on February 17, 1987 released 102,000 gallons of premium unleaded gasoline into the Hudson River, approximately two miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, immediately south of West Point, New York. The total volume of cargo carried by the barge was approximately 800,000 gallons. The Coast Guard cutter Penobscot Bay was near the scene and represented the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP), New York, on-scene. The barge's owner took necessary actions to minimize the quantity released. Observers from the Coast Guard and the New York Department of the Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) reported that the pollutant was flowing down the middle of the river. During the spill, the river experienced a full tidal excursion, the flow shifting from south to north. Observers noted no visible product on the water greater than 4 miles from the spill site. Conditions on scene were normal winter conditions for the Hudson, 10-knot winds from the north, temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, and ice covering the shores and slower moving areas. USCG district 3.