Bay Marchand Block 1, Oil Spill; Gulf of Mexico, LA

Gulf of Mexico, LA | 2009-Feb-12

Initial Notification: On the evening of 12 February 2009, USCG Marine Safety Unit Morgan City notified the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator of a 5-foot x 1000-foot bearably discernable sheen observed in Louisiana state waters. The time of the observation was roughly 4:30 PM (local time). The reported position was 29° 06’ 11” N Lat. 090° 09’ 32” W Long. This position places the slick approximately 1 nautical mile offshore of Fourchon Beach at Bay Champagne. The suspected RP doesn’t, at present, know the source, but will investigate at first light if weather conditions allow. Associated NRC report number is 897359. NOAA provided a trajectory analysis for the observed slick and also an analysis should the discharge volume and the source oil be more persistent than initially indicted.