M/V Fern Passat; Mayport, Florida

Mayport, Florida | 1987-Feb-27

Initial Notification: At 2020 on February 26, 1987, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) in Jacksonville was notified by the Jacksonville Pilot's station that the Fern Passat, carrying approximately 325,000 gallons of an intermediate fuel oil, had run aground on the south jetty at the entrance to the St. Johns River, and immediately began losing oil. Early reports from the ship's master indicated that currents and wind had pushed the 510 foot car carrier into the jetty. Tugs pulled the Fern Passat off the jetty before midnight. The Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) ordered the vessel to anchor outside of the sea buoy to minimize the effect of oil onshore, given the forecasted strong easterly winds. The ship was ordered in subsequent days to anchor 34 and 54 miles offshore to further minimize the chances of more oil coming ashore. This placed the ship in the Gulf Stream current which would carry the oil north. USCG district 7.