Unknown Oil Spill1; Off Grand Isle, Louisiana

Off Grand Isle, Louisiana | 1989-Apr-22

Initial Notification: On the morning of April 22, 1989, an oil spill was reported off Grand Isle, Louisiana. At 0920 helicopter reports indicated that the slick, which measured approximately eight miles long and 1-1/2 miles wide, was about 21 nautical miles south of Grand Isle. Subsequent reports from a Conoco oil platform air dispatcher indicated that the slick was oriented along an east-west axis and that it contained patches of dark "pudding-like" oil and silver to rainbow sheen. A Coast Guard overflight confirmed the sighting and reported that the slick was moving west and appeared to be breaking up. A Coast Guard vessel passing through the area described the material as somewhat stringy. USCG district 8.