BP Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico
Trade and Carrier Support Group Executive Summary #1
Incident Name:
Location:
Sector(s):
COTP Zone(s):
BP Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico
Mississippi Canyon 252
Mobile, New Orleans
Mobile, New Orleans
Start Date:
End Date:
04/28/2010
N/A
Incident Summary:
Oil cleanup is ongoing as a result of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling unit.
MSU HOUMA
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 a.m. No Changes. Port Fourchon is open to all marine traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
NEW ORLEANS
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 a.m. No changes. The port of New Orleans is open to all marine traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
GULFPORT
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 (1230) No changes. The Port of Gulfport remains open to all traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
MOBILE
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 (1120) No changes. The Port of Mobile remains open to all traffic. The Harbormaster in the Port of
Mobile has scheduled vessels to provide an email conveying written confirmation that their vessel is clean
prior to entering port. The Captain of the Port Mobile will be establishing vessel DECON stations at Mobile Bay
Anchorage, Mobile river at the Cochran bridge, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at the Foley Cut (pending
coordination with State of Florida Officials), and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in the vicinity of Pearl River
(pending further coordination with Sector New Orleans/ICP Houma).
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
MORGAN CITY
Recovery – Open
5-3-2010 No Changes. The Port of Morgan City is open to all marine traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
PANAMA CITY
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 (1033) No changes in port status. The Port of Panama City remains open to all traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
PASCAGOULA
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 (1015) No changes in port status. The Port of Pascagoula remains open to all traffic.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
PENSACOLA
Recovery - Open
5-3-2010 - No changes. The Port of Pensacola remains open with no restrictions. State of Florida officials
have not acted on any intent to "boom off" Pensacola Pass as of yet. If Pensacola Pass is boomed off, it will
prevent traffic from entering the port. State environmental representatives will meet tomorrow to discuss
vessel decontamination.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
Port/Incident Area Summary
5-3-2010 a.m. Oil spill response operations are ongoing. Current goal remains to keep commercial traffic
flowing in all ports in the Gulf of Mexico. There are no plans to restrict traffic coming from main shipping
lanes into or out of the ports of New Orleans, Pascagoula, Gulfport, Mobile, Pensacola, or Panama City.
There have been no reports received of oil spills in the main shipping fairways. Mariners are urged to
remain clear of the response area bounded by specific coordinates conveyed via broadcast notice to
mariners, NAVTEXT and Port Coordination Team announcements. Cleaning stations are established in the
New Orleans AOR for both deep draft & shallow draft (brown water) vessels as described in Recovery
Actions below.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
MTS Impact
5-3-2010 a.m. All waterways are open with no restrictions. Vessel traffic is strongly encouraged to avoid the
spill areas during voyages; vessels should make every effort to avoid coming in contact with oil, ensuring
safe navigation. Vessels following these procedures will greatly reduce the possibility they will need their
hull cleaned at a future date. It is the intent of the Captain of the Port of New Orleans and the Captain of the
Port of Mobile to facilitate marine traffic movement to the fullest extent possible throughout the duration of
the oil spill response. To that end, the Coast Guard will examine all measures necessary to ensure
commerce through the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway continues with minimum
restrictions. All locks remain open with the exception of three. The Ostrica Lock is closed for
repairs/maintenance and the Empire Locks is closed due to storm surge not related to the spill. The Harvey
Canal floodgates are closed due to storm surge, limiting the use of the locks to local traffic only. GIWW
through traffic must use the Algiers Locks and this is being conveyed to mariners through broadcasts.
Bridges remain operational and east/west traffic is unrestricted.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
MTS Recovery Actions
5-3-2010 a.m. Severe weather/storms forecast hampering cleaning and oil recovery operations. New
Orleans, Mississippi River - Hull assessment and cleaning (DECON station) stations are established at
Venice (aka Jump aka Tigers Pass 29.257994 N -89.253352 W), Fort Jackson (29.354616 N -89.460376
W) & Port Fourchon (29.145709 W -90.209645 N). Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) mobile cleaning
station is staged at East Pearl River Boat Ramp (30.238612 W -89.616033 N). The cleaning stations at Fort
Jackson and Tiger pass are temporarily shut down due to safety/rough weather/visibility. Additional
information and instructions will be provided by Captain of the Port - New Orleans. MTSRU's will continue
to engage stakeholders to minimize potential disruptions to maritime commerce. Broadcast Notice To
Mariners and Maritime Safety and Informational Bulletins will be updated and released as frequently as
needed to advise mariners of the current situation. If vessels are showing evidence of hull fouling
(producing sheen) after transit thru impacted zones, they must be cleaned. Otherwise, it is the option of the
ship's master to have the hull cleaned.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
Waterways Management Actions
5-3-2010 a.m. Sector New Orleans - There are currently no restrictions to vessel traffic on the Lower
Mississippi River. 0900 - Bar pilots are ops normal and vessel traffic is entering/exiting the Lower
Mississippi River. Bar pilots report that no vessels entering Southwest Pass have reported any sheens or
presence of oil on any vessel.
Broadcasts have been issued to convey the impact area location and request mariners steer clear. Captain
of the Port New Orleans has established a safety zone from South Pass in the vicinity of the mouth where
booming is deployed or being deployed; Southeast Pass in the vicinity of the mouth where booming is
deployed or being deployed; and Pass a Loutre, in the vicinity of the north fork where booming is deployed
or being deployed. A 500 meter safety zone is established offshore around the riser of the Deepwater
Horizon. The coordinates for the BNTM impacted area are: North Point: 29-15.42N, 088-00.62W; East
Point: 29-9.59N, 087-2.34W; West Point: 29-00.11, 089-07.38W.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010
Future Plans
5-3-2010 a.m. USCG will continue frequent and open dialogue with port and shipping stakeholders. Vessel
cleaning protocols are under development. Preventative booming efforts will continue to minimize impact to
safety fairways. Long term restoration issues are being considered.
Latest updated: 05/03/2010