ESSO Puerto Rico; Mississippi River, Louisiana

Mississippi River, Louisiana | 1988-Sep-03

Initial Notification: At approximately midnight on September 3, 1988, the ESSO Puerto Rico, loaded with carbon black feedstock, departed EXXON Corporation's Baton Rouge facility bound for the Gulf of Mexico. Around 0800, the vessel apparently struck the anchor of a Lykes ship at the Kenner Bend Anchorage (river mile 114), opening the No. 1 starboard tank and releasing 23,000 barrels of carbon black feedstock. The bulk of the material was released over a period of 45 minutes. During this time, the vessel traveled about 10 miles down the river. At the time of the incident, river currents were less than one knot, wind was southerly, and the water temperature was approximately 85 degrees F. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO), New Orleans, was notified of the spill and the vessel was anchored at mile marker 75. The USCG Atlantic Strike Team's (AST) assistance was requested. Small, rainbow sheens of about 12 inches in diameter developed near the anchor site and the severely listing vessel. No other evidence of a spill was apparent. EXXON hired Continental Shelf Associates (CSA) to sample the river bottom for oil. Sampling began on September 5 by AST and September 6 by CSA. At intervals of every mile between river mile 64.5 and 114, samples were taken from bank to bank. In all samples taken, very little oil was detected. EXXON Corporation was requested to provide data on the spilled material and its physical characteristics in fresh, brackish, and saltwater environments. They were also requested to conduct a study on the effects of the material on bottom-dwelling, filter-feeding species residing in the river outflow region. USCG district 8. Keyword: Sub-surface oil, fingerprinting, Atlantic Strike Team (AST), absorbent pads, suction operations..