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Tug John A. Downs

INCIDENT SUMMARY ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 4, 1985 THE 113 FOOT TUG, JOHN A DOWNS, WITH 3
BARGES IN TOW BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER.  THE EMPTY BARGES WERE CUT LOOSE BUT THE VESSEL
CONTINUED TO FLOUNDER.  THE CREW OF 13 ABANDONED SHIP AND WERE RESCUED BY THE U.S. COAST
GUARD.  ALL THREE BARGES WERE TAKEN IN TOW BY OTHER VESSELS.  . ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 5
AN OIL SLICK WAS SIGHTED DURING LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS FROM A BUOY MARKED "2A" ON NOAA
CHART 13211. THE MOST RECENT NUMBER FOR THIS BUOY IS "4" LOCATED AT 41 DEGREES 15.5 MIN
NORTH LAT. AND 72 DEGREES 08.5 MIN WEST LONG. THE SLICK IS REPORTED TO EXTEND TO THE SOUTH
WEST FOR 3/4 OF A MILE. NO WIDTH CAN BE OBSERVED.  . THE JOHN A DOWNS IS REPORTED TO HAVE
50,000 GALLONS OF #2 FUEL OIL AND 1,000 GALLONS OF LUBE OIL ON BOARD.  . NOAA RESPONSE  .
THE U.S. COAST GUARD CAPTAIN OF THE PORT OF NEW LONDON HAS REQUESTED NOAA/OAD PRESENCE
DURING HIS RESPONSE TO THIS INCIDENT. HE HAS ALSO REQUESTED TRAJECTORY INFORMATION FOR THE
NEXT FEW DAYS AND A RESOURCES AT RISK ANALYSIS.  . LOCATIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE LONG ISLAND
SOUND AREA THAT ARE OF CONCERN ARE THE GREAT GULL ISLAND AN ESTIMATED 4 MILES TO THE
SOUTH, NIANIC BAY TO THE NORTH, FISHERS ISLAND TO THE EAST AND PLUM ISLAND TO THE
SOUTHWEST.  . REQUEST TRAJECTORY AND RESOURCES AT RISK INFO BE SENT TO A SPILL ACCOUNT
CALLED JOHN A DOWNS AND TO THE ELECTRONIC MAIL ACCOUNTS LIS, CGMSO, CGD3.  . SSC CAN BE
REACHED IN NEW LONDON AT (FTS) 645-6044/45, COMMERCIAL PHONE (203) 442-4471.