Mystery Sheen; 11 nm Offshore, LA

11 nm Offshore, LA | 2012-Jul-12

Initial Notification: On 12JUL12, USCG Sector New Orleans contacted NOAA SSC for support of a mystery sheen reported by a Good Samaritan helicopter at 1410 CDT. The sheen was reported as 15 miles by 0.5 miles and rainbow in color. The reported position is 11 nautical miles east of Redfish Bay and Northeast Pass, east of the Mississippi Delta. It is not known where the reported position is in relation to the entire sheen. The report also claims the sheen to be traveling southwest. An overflight scheduled to investigate the sheen this afternoon was diverted for SAR. USCG is requesting a trajectory for directing an overflight scheduled for tomorrow morning.