Mystery Spill, Kauai; Kauai, HI

Kauai, HI | 1993-Jun-14

Initial Notification: U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office (MSO) Honolulu received a report at 1150 on June 14, 1993, of an oil slick off the south coast of the island of Kauai. A USCG overflight of the area confirmed that the slick was 3.5 miles long by 300 yards wide and consisted of 95 percent sheen and 5 percent black oil in wind rows. The Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Washington and the Clean Island Cooperative's skimmer were dispatched, arriving onscene the following morning. Skimming operations concentrated on the ribbons of dark oil until dark on June 15. Overflight personnel on the morning of June 16 saw a significantly dissipated slick broken into areas of light sheen and containing no recoverable oil. The CGC Washington and the skimmer were released at 0915 on June 16. USCG district 5.