F/V Green Arrow; Block Island, Rhode Island

Block Island, Rhode Island | 1996-Dec-22

Initial Notification: the morning of December 22, 1996, the 75-foot, steel-hull F/V Green Arrow ran aground on the southeast shore of Block Island, Rhode Island. Of primary concern were the sheltered salt marshes of the Great Salt Pond on the northwest side of the island and the lobster population in the immediate area. The winds were from the southwest, blowing oil out to sea and away from sensitive areas. Over the next 48 hours, small craft advisories and gale warnings with 6- to 12-foot seas were forecast from the southwest, endangering the vessel's position. Attempts to bring an offloading vessel alongside were hampered by the heavy weather and shallow water. On December 23, 1996, overflight observers saw rainbow sheens from the vessel extending northeasterly for approximately one mile. It was believed that the starboard tank was holed and leaking. The heaviest weather passed through on December 24, 1996. The following day the vessel was intact, but it was believed that more fuel had been released and the starboard tank was holed. The FOSC suspended operations over the holiday. On December 26 a USCG dedicated pollution overflight observed very little sheening. The USCG and salvors began offloading operations. By December 27 it was estimated that more than 3,100 gallons of fuel had been removed and approximately 4,000 gallons had been lost. USCG and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) shoreline surveys did not indicate shoreline oiling or wildlife impacts. USCG district 1.