Lightering Spill; offshore Texas

offshore Texas | 1998-Jan-02

Initial Notification: Two vessels were conducting lightering operations off the Texas coast (lat 28-37.0N, long 94-15.0W) near Claypile Bank when a lightering hose ruptured. Initial reports indicate that 40 barrels of "Queibo" Crude, an Arabian Light Crude with an unconfirmed API of 36.0 was released. On scene weather is reported as, seas 2'-3' and winds from the SSE at 5-10 knots. Some of the product has been contained in boom and a USCG helo overflight is en route to investigate. NOAA HAZMAT is providing initial trajectory and fate and effect assessment while awaiting the results of the overflight. The lightering zone is well off the coast and therefore spill is not an immediate threat to coastal areas. USCG district 8. Keyword: boom, potential spill.