Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill – November 22, 2005

WFO Lake Charles received a call from the NOAA HAZMAT office in Seattle. The tug Rebel and tank barge DBL-152 had struck a submerged oil platform damaged by Hurricane Rita.  The tug released the double-hulled barge after noticing it was listing. The barge drifted about 15 km and subsequently ran aground. Twelve days later, it flipped over and sank with only the stern above water. An estimated 2.7 million gallons of oil were leaked, which resulted in a major spill that settled on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico 55 km south of Cameron, Louisiana.

The WFO provided HAZMAT Spot Forecasts twice daily, with updates as needed.  Special Marine Warnings were issued if hazardous conditions were present.  The recovery team required forecasts for winds and seas, as well as other significant weather events that would affect the recovery operation.

Support for this incident continued until approximately January 27, 2006.  An estimated 130 spot forecasts were issued to the U.S. Coast Guard Incident Commander, along with occasional contact by phone and fax.

For more info:

http://www.rdc.uscg.gov/reports/Products/SubmergedOil Michel FINAL.pdf