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The ARGO MERCHANT
j|Q\ Oil Spill

A Preliminary Scientific Report

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Edited by

Peter L. Grose and James S. Mattson

NOAA Environmental Data Service

Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis

Major contributing organizations:

U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Department of Defense/Department of the Navy

U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Department of Transportation/Coast Guard

U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration

Manomet Bird Observatory

Marine Biological Laboratory

Massachusetts/Fisheries and Game Division

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Science Foundation

University of Rhode Island

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

and a great number of participating organizations
as noted within the report

March 1977

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Robert M. White, Administrator

NOTICE

Mention of a commercial company or product does not
constitute an endorsement by NOAA Environmental Research
Laboratories. Use for publicity or advertising purposes
of information from this publication concerning proprie-
tary products or the tests of such products is not
authorized.

Published by:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Environmental Research Laboratories
Boulder, Colorado 80302

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The tanker Argo Merchant carrying 7,700,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil
went aground on Fishing Rip, 29 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Island,
Massachusetts, at 0600 EST on December 15, 1976. Despite attempts to refloat
the tanker, it began to leak oil and, at 0835 on December 21, broke in half
after a battering by gale force winds. By the next day, after the ship had
broken again, most of the oil it carried was drifting at the mercy of winds
and currents. The bow section, which still had some buoyancy and was thought
to contain some remaining cargo, started drifting away from the other two
pieces of wreckage. Despite attempts by the U.S. Coast Guard to remove the
buoyancy by holing the floatation compartments on December 31, the bow section
drifted southeast into deeper water under the influence of the severe currents
in the area. On February 8, 1977, the bow section was relocated 1 mile to the
southeast and was found to be empty of oil. What started as another tanker
going aground ended up as one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.

The grounding of the Argo Merchant triggered intense scientific activity
between December 15, 1976, and February 12, 1977 , aimed at describing the
movement and fate of the oil released by the tanker as a first step in the
long process of assessing the ecological effects of the spill. This activity
was centered on the U.S. Coast Guard's operations at its Cape Cod Air Station,
and was coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration (NOAA) , and academic scientists from the oceanographic
research institutions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Participating
agencies, in addition to the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA, included Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation; U.S. Navy, including the Naval Under-
water Systems Center, Department of Defense; Bureau of Land Management and the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) , Department of the Interior; Environmental
Protection Agency; Energy Research and Development Administration; Manomet
Bird Observatory; Marine Biological Laboratory; Massachusetts Division of
Fisheries and Wildlife; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Universi-
ties of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Southern California; and Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution.

During the week after the grounding, both NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (WHOI) , recalled research vessels Ofrom scheduled operations to
undertake special cruises designed to determine the fate of the oil and to
make the first assessments of the impact of the spilled oil on the ecology of
the lucrative fishing grounds. Six biology stations were occupied by scien-
tists from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the Delaware II
and three stations were occupied by WHOI and NOAA scientists on the Oceanus to
assess how much oil had entered the water column and sediments. In the weeks
that followed, over 200 water and sediment samples were acquired during
cruises on U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, WHOI, USGS, and University of Rhode Island
vessels. Forty-three additional biology stations, at which fish and shellfish
samples were obtained, were occupied during a second NMFS cruise . The culmina-
tion of the initial field activities was a benthic survey that encompassed the
entire Continental Shelf bottom over which the Argo Merchant oil had passed.
This bottom survey was completed in two cruises by oceanographers from the
University of Rhode Island (URI) , NOAA, and the Coast Guard on URI's
R/V Endeavor, the second cruise ending on February 12, 1917. Another cruise

iii

of the Endeavor began on February 21, 1977, to delineate the extent of the
bottom contamination in the vicinity of the sunken bow section of the
Argo Merchant. Further field programs are planned by NMFS to continue the
long-term assessment of the spilled oil on the ecology of Nantucket Shoals and
Georges Bank.

Prelininary chemical analyses for oil content of all water and sediment
samples taken up until February 12, 1977, have been completed. Selected
samples of fish, shellfish, water, and sediments have been sent to the NOAA
National Analytical Facility in Seattle, Washington, for more detailed study.
Biological studies based mainly on sampling at the six stations occupied
during the first cruise of the Delaware II (DE 76-13) are being carried out by
NMFS scientists. Neither the chemical nor biological studies have been
completed. Work is continuing by all concerned toward final assessment of the
fate and impact of the oil spilled from the Argo Merchant. With these cautions
in mind, the following preliminary results are presented:

o The oil from the Argo Merchant stayed on the ocean surface, with
the exception of the "cutter stock," which entered the water
column, and an as-yet undetermined amount of whole oil that was
mechanically worked into the bottom in the immediate vicinity of
the wreckage. The cutter stock, which comprised 20 percent of
the oil, was found in the water column in concentrations up to
250 parts per billion. The highest levels were observed only
beneath fresh oil slicks, and were reduced to background levels
by turbulent mixing in a few days.

o Oil in significant amounts has not been found in the sediments to
date, except within 10 miles of the bow section, where concentra-
tions up to 100 parts per million were measured.

o Most of the oil remained on the surface and moved offshore under
the influence of the prevailing west winds. Surface oil was never
observed north of 41°21' or west of 70°10', nor was it observed
within 15 miles of any land. Modeling efforts were successful in
predicting the offshore movement of the surface oil, primarily
because the movement was controlled by predominantly offshore
winds while the complicated circulation of the nearshore areas
and Nantucket Shoals played only a minor role.

o There is evidence of oil contamination in fish, shellfish, ichthyo-
plankton, and zooplankton populations in the area of the spill.
Mortalities of developing cod and pollock embryos in eggs contam-
inated with oil were observed. No. 6 fuel oil caused significant
mortalities of cod embryos in laboratory experiments conducted by
NMFS and collaborating scientists from EPA and the University of
Kiel. Noticeable decreases in the abundance of sand launce larvae,
which may have been caused by oil, were observed in the spill zone.
Large numbers of zooplankters , which are an important food of
larval and adult fish, were contaminated with petroleum hydro-
carbons similar to No. 6 fuel oil, indicating impact on an
important pathway in the food web of the Nantucket Shoals ecosystem.
The extent of this impact is under investigation. Much of the oil

iv

in the copepods was in the form of fecal pellets. These pellets
are excreted into the water column, settle to the bottom, and may
be concentrated in such benthic filter-feeders as mussels,
scallops, and quahogs. Adverse physiological effects were also
observed in reduced respiration of scallops, mussels, and an ionic
imbalance of blood serum in blackback and yellowtail flounders.
The implications of the above results for long-term effects are
unclear Additional extensive surveys and laboratory tests will
be required to clarify preliminary findings.

o Of the seabirds affected by the surface oil, the highest mortality

was observed among Murres. Marine mammals did not appear to be

affected by the surface oil in the few cases where they were seen

in the vicinity of the oil. These findings, however, are based on
very limited observations.

o The No. 6 fuel oil from the Argo Merchant formed pancakes of oil
that tended to increase in thickness as they aged. These pancakes
were observed to have flat bottoms, and they did not appear to be
tapered towards their edges. The affected surface area was not
solidly covered by a continuous film of oil but rather by thick
pancakes, very thin oil film (sheen), and large open areas of
water. Several direct measurements of the velocity of the oil
pancakes relative to the surface water indicated that this
differential velocity was about 1 percent of wind speed in a
downwind direction. The oil sheen appeared to be generated by the
oil in the pancakes and moved at a slightly lower speed.

o Sufficient data were collected during the oil spill to allow the
generation of a data set that can be used for hindcasting the
oil movement. These data include meteorological observations,
current observations at several locations in the spill area, a
time history of the area covered by oil, as well as data on the
amounts and fractions of the oil, as a function of time and space,
that entered the water column. Analyses of these data will also
lead to the development of improved algorithms describing the fate
of oil that can be incorporated into predictive models.

Much of the success of the research activities conducted in response to
the oil spill can be attributed to the interest and cooperation of the Federal
On-Scene Coordinator, Captain Lynn Hein of the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as to
the deliberate effort to coordinate the research rather than allowing it to be
fragmented and independent. Captain Hein was not only actively involved in
the research activities, but also made operational resources available for
research purposes on a noninterference basis, particularly logistic support by
Coast Guard aircraft and ships. This contribution by the Coast Guard cannot
be overestimated. Without it, research personnel would not have had the
necessary information for operational planning and would have had only limited
access to the spill site for sampling and other investigations.

The coordination of the research activities began almost immediately after
the Argo Merchant had run aground and the potential for an oil spill was
apparent. Marine scientists from NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard had outlined

v

a contingency research plan for just such an event under the sponsorship of
the Bureau of Land Management, DOT, through the Outer Continental Shelf
Environmental Assessment Program managed by NOAA. It was the existence of
this plan, as well as the intense participation of 14 NOAA and U.S. Coast
Guard staff members who were thoroughly familiar with the scientific procedures
and goals outlined in the plan, that enabled a concentrated, comprehensive
research effort to begin in earnest only 27 hours after the grounding. On
December 17, coordination meetings were held with marine scientists from local
research institutions to determine the resources available and to develop an
immediate sampling program. Constant contact was maintained between the
participating organizations to ensure that activities remained coordinated.

On January 3 and 4, 1977, a meeting of the scientists involved in
investigating the Argo Merchant spill was convened to develop criteria for the
next phase of investigation into the fate of the oil. As a result of that
meeting, a single chemical analysis network was agreed upon for the analysis
of all the water sediment and biota samples that had been taken up to that
date and would be taken in the next 6 weeks. The meeting also resulted in a
plan for a survey to culminate the initial field activities by assessing the
amount of oil that remained in the water column and determining which benthic
areas were contaminated. Because of the continued coordination among the
participating scientists, the research activities remained cohesive and were
able to yield the results summarized above. Although preliminary in nature,
these results are nevertheless quite definitive and broad in scone.

In conclusion, the outcome of the Argo Merchant oil spill appears to have
been fortunate in several respects: (1) the winds were almost continuously
offshore, preventing the oil from coming on the beaches; (2) the density of
the oil was low enough so that it did not sink and contaminate the bottom; and
(3) the spill occurred in the winter, when biological activity, productivity,
and fishing activities are relatively low. At another time, the effects of a
similar oil spill might have been much more serious.

vx

PREFACE

The grounding of the Argo Merchant on Nantucket Shoals off the coast of
Masachusetts on December 15, 1976, and the subsequent discharge of oil during
the breakup of the vessel resulted in one of the largest oil spills off the
shores of the United States. The resulting oil spill occurred in one of the
most productive fishing grounds of the world and threatened to be a major
disaster not only to the marine ecosystem but also to the livelihood of our
fishermen. In response to this potential disaster were brought to bear the
talents and resources of Federal and State organizations and private institu-
tions in an unprecedented effort to determine the movement and behavior of the
spilled oil and to assess its impact upon the marine ecosystem.

We are just now establishing the initial assessment of the oil spill upon
the area of Georges Bank and Nantucket Shoals and the resources of that area.
It is a complex ecosystem.

This report presents the available results from the investigations
carried out to date by the many groups involved in the initial assessment of
the distribution of the Argo Merchant oil spill and its impact. For the many
Federal, State, and private activities requiring information about the oil
spill and its consequences the report is intended to provide a unified summary
of the studies that are being or have been carried out, the types and distri-
bution of data, and such analyses and results as are now available.

The results which are included within the report are mostly those of the
individual investigators and groups that responded to the Argo Merchant
incident. Many of them must be considered preliminary, particularly with
respect to the impact upon the fishery resources of the area, and must await
further study. However, we already have gained a much greater understanding
of the behavior of oil spills and their impact upon the ecosystem so as to be
better able to respond to such incidents in the future.

I would like to express my appreciation to the many individuals who
dedicated long and hard hours, often under extremely adverse conditions,
addressing this serious threat to our environment and valuable resources.

vn

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

When the Argo Merchant ran aground, there was virtually no organized
plan for conducting research on the spilled oil with the exception of an
outline plan of NOAA/Coast Guard Spilled Oil Research Program funded by the
Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior. As the word of the
potential disaster got around by phone calls and the news media, people,
agencies, and institutions volunteered their services and responded to
requests for help. Within a few days a coherent research plan specific to
the Argo Merchant was put together by participating scientists and implemented.
This plan focused on gathering data to improve models that predict spilled oil
behavior and on assessing the impact of oil on the local biological communi-
ties. The speed of response by the many agencies involved and the resources
that were brought to bear on the problem was amazing. Planes, ships, and
facilities were diverted from their normal scheduled tasks to aid in the
emergency .

This report was assembled from the contributions made by the numerous
government agencies, private and state institutions, and industrial groups
involved in assessing the fate and impact of the Argo Merchant oil. The
broad spectrum of talent which participated in the research is overwhelming,
as can be seen by a glance at Appendix I. Many of the participants voluntar-
ily gave up their vacations and altered their holiday plans to help in the
investigation. For the last 2 months many of these same people have been
working day and night, not only to collect data for research but also to
analyze them and present them in preliminary form. This document witnesses
the unselfish efforts of these people.

Some individuals deserve special credit for their part in producing this
report: Carolyn Rogers who served as the contact and assembled the material
from the National Marine Fisheries Service; Eva Hoffman who served in the same
capacity from the University of Rhode Island; Elaine Chan of the Spilled Oil
Research Team, whose tireless capacity for recording events and statistics
prevented many items of research from being lost during the hectic times of
the contingency operations; John Mugler, Jr., of NASA Langley Research Center,
who coordinated NASA's efforts. Kathy Kidwell of EDS generated most of the
graphics both for the draft preliminary report and this report. Rosalie Red-
mond from the NOAA Environmental Research Laboratories not only spent a
grueling 2 weeks working around the clock typing the draft preliminary report,
but she also gave up her vacation to come to Cape Cod immediately after
Christmas, leaving her family behind to do so. Finally, Kate Bradley,
Gloria Thompson, and Clemmie Edwards gave up their off duty time to retype
the draft report to incorporate numerous changes and revisions into the final
manuscript .

vin

Contents

Page

Executive Summary iii

Preface vii

Acknowledgments viii

List of Abbreviations xi

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Purpose of Report 1

1.2 Historical Background 1

1.3 Chronology of Events 6

1.4 Participants 8

2. Investigations of Physical Processes 12

2.1 Techniques of Field Efforts 12

2.1.1 Airborne Operations 13

2.1.2 Ship Operations 17

2.2 Results of Field Efforts 17

2.2.1 Mapping 18

2.2.2 Physical Observations 20

2.2.3 Water Motion Measurements 22

2.2.4 Oil Velocity 29

2.2.5 Water Mass Measurements 31

2.2.6 Meteorological Observations and Forecasts 32

2.2.7 Burning of Oil 38

2.2.8 "Tar ball" Reports 40

2.3 Oil Trajectory Modeling Efforts 40

2.3.1 U.S. Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit 42

2.3.2 U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center 43

2.3.3 Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis 48

2.3.4 U.S. Geological Survey Systems Analysis Group 51

2.3.5 University of Rhode Island, Department of

Ocean Engineering 56

2.3.6 Summary of Initial Modeling Results 63

3. Investigations of Chemical Processes 65
3.1 Basic Chemistry of Spilled Oil 65

3.1.1 Suspended Sediments 65

3.1.2 Evaporation 66

3.1.3 Dissolution 67

3.1.4 Emulsif ication 67

3.1.5 Oxidation 67

IX

3.2 Oil Sampling 69

3.2.1 Oil Slick Sampling and Analyses 70

3.2.2 Water Sampling and Analyses 72

3.2.3 Sediment Sampling and Analyses 79

3.2.4 Summary 84

4. Investigations of Biological Processes and Effects 89

4.1 Fisheries Investigations 89

4.1.1 Zooplankton Studies 94

4.1.2 Ichthyoplankton Studies 100

4.1.3 Genetic Studies 103

4.1.4 Effects of Oil on Developing Embryos 107

4.1.5 Food Habits 108

4.1.6 Physiological Effects of Pollutant Stress 113

4.1.7 Biological Samples for Hydrocarbon Analysis 114

4.1.8 Phytoplankton Studies 114

4.2 Seabird Observations 114

4.2.1 Manomet Bird Observatory Report 114

4.2.2 Ship Cruise and Overflight Reports 117

4.2.3 Shore-Based Cleanup Efforts 118

4.3 Observations of Marine Mammals 119

4.4 littoral Zone and Near-Coastal Zone Survey 119

4.5 Preliminary Surveys of Impact on Fishing Activities 120

4.5.1 Fishermen's Survey 121

4.5.2 NMFS Port Agent's Report 123

5. Conclusions 126

5.1 Oil Transport 127

5.2 Fate of the Oil 128

5.3 Biological Effects 129

6. Ongoing Activities 131

6.1 Physical Processes 131

6.2 Chemical Processes 132

6.3 Biological Processes 132

Appendix I: Contributors and Participants

Appendix II: Chronology

Appendix III: Selected Photographs

Appendix IV: Oil Slick Maps

Appendix V: Cruise Reports

Appendix VI: Overflight Description

Appendix VII: Miscellaneous Tables and Figures

Appendix VIII: Summary Fact Sheet (published separately)

x

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ADEC

AMSI

AOML

ART

AST

BLM

CEDDA

USCGC

DO I

DOT

EDS

EPA

ERDA

ERL

FAA

GEOS

IR

Landsat

MESA

MIT

MSO

NAA

NASA

NDBO

NEFC

NESS

NMFS

NOAA

NOS

NUSC

NWS

OSC

OCSEAP

RFC

SAI

SOR

URI

USAF

USCG

USGS

USN

WHO I

XBT

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Aero-Marine Surveys, Inc.

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories (NOAA)

Airborne Radiation Thermometer

Atlantic Strike Team

Bureau of Land Management (DOI)

Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis (NOAA)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter

Department of the Interior

Department of Transportation

Environmental Data Service (NOAA)

Environmental Protection Agency

Energy Research and Development Administration

Environmental Research Laboratories (NOAA)

Federal Aviation Administration

Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite

Infrared

Land Satellite

Marine Ecosystems Analysis

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Marine Safety Office (USCG)

New England Airphoto Associates, Inc.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NOAA Data Buoy Office

Northeast Fisheries Center (NOAA)

National Environmental Satellite Service (NOAA)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Survey (NOAA)

Naval Underwater Systems Center

National Weather Service (NOAA)

On-Scene Coordinator

Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program

Research Facilities Center (NOAA)

Science Applications, Inc.

Spilled Oil Research Team

University of Rhode Island

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Navy

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Expendable Bathythermograph

XI

1 . INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of Report

The purpose of this document is to provide a preliminary account of the
physical, chemical, and biological studies initiated by numerous federal and
state agencies, and private institutions during the period immediately fol-
lowing the grounding of the Argo Merchant on Nantucket Shoals on December 15,
1976.

At 0600 EST, December 15, 1976, Argo Merchant, carrying 7,700,000 gal-
lons of No. 6 fuel oil, went aground on Fishing Rip, 29 nautical miles south-
east of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Despite attempts to refloat the
tanker, it began to leak oil, and at 0835 on December 21 the battered tanker
broke in two. The subsequent oil spill was one of the largest in United
States history.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has estab-
lished a NOAA-U. S. Coast Guard Spilled Oil Research (SOR) Team to provide
rapid research response in the event of accidental oil spills within the
continental United States by studying the physical-chemical movement of
various classes of oil at sea under a variety of oceanographic and meteorol-
ogical conditions, in support of both predictive and operational oil spill
trajectory models. The SOR Team is made up of scientists from NOAA, the U. S.
Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Within
4 hours of the grounding of the Argo Merchant, the SOR Team was notified of
the potential major oil spill.

After arrival on the scene, the first team members were informed that
the USCG would provide logistics supporting research. In return, the SOR
Team would provide information to the On-Scene Coordinator, as well as assist-
ance in coordination between the On-Scene Coordinator and the scientific
community involved in research during the spill. Numerous federal and state
agencies, as well as state and private research organizations, participated
in a combined research effort.

This report documents the cooperative investigations that were under-
taken immediately following the grounding of "the Argo Merchant. It describes
completed and continuing research on the physical, chemical, and biological
processes associated with the spill, and provides a preliminary assessment of
the spill.

1.2 Historical Background

In order to place the Argo Merchant spill into proper perspective, it is
worthwhile to digress somewhat and examine marine oil pollution in its en-
tirety. Sightings of tar balls at sea, oil slicks of unknown origin, and
beach pollution by oil have been reported with increasing frequency in the
pages of scientific journals and daily newspapers since 1967. After the 1967

Torrey Canyon grounding and the Santa Barbara Channel blowout in 1969, the
United States government began to take measures to meet the demands of the
public for clean beaches and waterways, as evidenced by the adoption of
legislation designed to assign responsibilities for the cleanup of oil spills,
determining the source, and assessing financial liability.

During the winter of 1976-77, when the Argo Merchant went aground on
Nantucket Shoals, the Grand Zenith disappeared off New England, and barges
were going aground in Buzzards Bay and the Hudson River, it may have seemed
as though some diabolical scheme were afoot to wreak havoc on U.S. shores.
Yet, on November 5, 1969, the tanker Keo , carrying 210,000 barrels of No. 4
fuel oil, 21,000 barrels more than the Argo Merchant, broke in half 120 miles
southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, but few scientists remembered that
accident when they predicted the devastation of Georges Bank fisheries by
Argo Merchant oil. Less dramatci, but important nonetheless, were spills of
No. 6 fuel oil into Buzzards Bay on February 9, 1969, from the tanker Algol,
and into Narragansett Bay in April 1973 from the tanker Pennant. In the 1969
Buzzards Bay spill, up to 4,000 barrels of No. 6 fuel oil spilled over a
period of days, in subfreezing temperatures, 45-knot winds, and 8- to 20-foot
seas. In the 1973 Pennant spill, over 2,000 barrels of No. 6 fuel oil came
ashore in Narragansett Bay near Bristol, Rhode Island, with tar balls and
"pancakes" of oil hitting Conimicut and Gaspee Points. The Argo Merchant
grounding on December 15, 1976, was not the first instance of oil pollution
in that area. It was not even the largest one, being somewhat smaller than
the Keo spill in 1969, and it is certainly not going to be the last such
incident off the coast of New England.

In 1973, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) organized a Workshop on
Inputs, Fates, and Effects of Petroleum in the Marine Environment. This
workshop identified the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons entering the sea as
follows: natural seeps, losses during offshore production, transportation
(operations and accidents), refineries, atmospheric input, municipal wastes
(domestic and industrial), urban runoff, and river runoff. While there are
many contributors to marine pollution by oil, and some of them are quite
substantial, marine transportation is responsible for the largest single
share (35%) as shown in Figure 1-1 based on the findings of the NAS Workshop.
Of this 35%, one-seventh is derived from accidents involving vessels.

The persistence of oil introduced into the marine environment has long
been a subject of controversy. The 1957 Tampico wreck resulted in a spill of
60,000 barrels of diesel fuel in a small bay on the Pacific coast of Baja
California. W. North of California Institute of Technology described the
recovery of the marine life in this bay as well underway within 1 year.
Ten years after the accident, the bay appeared to have been restored to
something approaching its original state, though the dominant organisms may
have been different from the ones predominating before the spill. It is
worth noting that news of the Tampico grounding did not reach marine scien-
tists until three weeks after the accident.

There have been other accidents where little damage to the local envi-
ronment was apparent, even with materials more persistent than the diesel
fuel spilled by the Tampico. According to some investigators, no long-term

OFFSHORE
PRODUCTION
1.3%

COASTAL
REFINERIES

3.3%

Figure 1-1. Contributions to marine pollution by oil,

effects were observed in the biota of the Santa Barbara Channel area after
the 1969 blowout. Winter rains were abnormally severe during the Santa
Barbara Channel accident, causing huge quantities of clay mineral particles
from the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers to flow into the Channel, sinking the
oil slick on contact. The sunken oil was reworked by bottom currents the
next year, until most of it resided in the nearly anaerobic Santa Barbara
Basin. The sheer volume of sediment input to the Channel that winter covered
the oil deposits to a depth of several centimeters within a few months,
making the oil inaccessible to all but burrowing benthic organisms. In
addition, oil beached along the Santa Barbara Channel coast-line arrived
after the beaches had been cut back severly by the longshore currents preva-
lent in that area in the winter, so that these oil deposits were buried by
several centimeters of sand when the beaches were rebuilt later that year.
Continued tidal action dispersed the beached oil vertically within the sand,
thus returning the beach to near-normal conditions within a year or two.
Sunken oil is not really gone, just out of sight, and oil on the sea bottom
could adversely affect local fishing interests for some time after an acci-
dent. Shrimp fishermen in the San Francisco area picked up oil in their nets
for several weeks following the collision of the Arizona Standard and the
Oregon Standard under the Golden Gate Bridge in 1971. This oil was a heavy
residual fuel oil spilled in a highly turbulent environment. As it lost

whatever volatile components it had and its density approached that of sea-
water, the remaining fractions were rapidly dispersed through the water
column. A similar observation was made after the wreck of the Arrow in
Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, with particles of oil found in the water column
at substantial distances from the wreck.

Using the worldwide accident data published by Lloyds of London, Keith
and Porricelli (1973) published an analysis of 1,416 tanker accidents that
occurred in 1969 and 1970. Of these accidents, 266 reported measurable out-
flows of oil, and an analysis of these documented cases presents some picture
of the causes of accident-related oil pollution. Keith and Porricelli found
that this accident-related input of oil to the sea during 1969 and 1970 was
somewhere between 427,000 and 447,000 metric tons, or about 218,000 metric
tons (1,526,000 barrels) per year. This compares well with the NAS Workshop
estimate of 300,000 metric tons per year which includes pollution from non-
tanker accidents (100,000 metric tons per year) as well as tanker accidents
(200,000 metric tons per year). Table 1-1 summarizes the magnitude of oil
pollution for each class of accident during the 2-year period.

Table 1-1. Vessel-related oil pollution worldwide by accident type,
1969-70 (from Keith and Porricelli, 1973)

Type of casualty

Oil released,

Percent of

barrels/2 yrs

total

1,510,355

49.3

882,042

28.8

243,733

8.0

242,137

7.9

116,634

3.8

33,124

1.1

30,716

1.0

4,536

0.1

3,063,277

100.0

Structural failure

Grounding

Collision (ship-to-ship)

Explosion

Breakdown*

Ramming (ship-to-object)

Fire

Other

Totals

^Mechanical breakdown that led to eventual grounding and breakup of the
tanker.

k

Keith and Porricelli point out that the volume of oil pollution caused
by a grounding is likely to be three to four times that expected from a
collision, primarily because of the tendency to hole many tanks during a
grounding, often leading to the total loss of a vessel and its cargo. In
their analysis, they found that the smallest tankers (10,000 to 20,000 dead-
weight tonnage) were responsible for the highest relative frequency and
magnitude of oil pollution incidents, and that the very large cargo carriers
(200,000 deadweight tonnage) were responsible for much less pollution per
deadweight ton afloat than the average tanker. The Argo Merchant carried
about 27,000 tons. Keith and Porricelli' s (1973) analysis of the vintage of
tankers involved in accidents showed that vessels over 17 years old were
responsible for more than their share of accidental pollution incidents, and
about half of those were due to structural failures. The Argo Merchant was
23 years old when it ran aground on Nantucket Shoals.

In 1970, the Dillingham Corporation carried out a study of the "major"
oil spills that had taken place worldwide between 1955 and 1970. Seventy-
five percent of the major incidents that took place during those 15 years in-
volved vessels, and 90 percent of the vessels involved were tankers. In that
study, it was concluded that the likely source of a major spill in the United
States coastal waters would be an oil tanker carrying crude oil or residual
fuel. Because of the high traffic in and around port facilities, it was also
predicted that major spills will most often occur within 10 miles of shore
and within 25 miles of the nearest port. The Dillingham report predicted
that the median volume of a major spill would exceed 5,000 barrels, the
median size spill in the 1955-1970 period being 25,000 barrels. The Argo
Merchant spill, on the high side of that estimate, comes in at 189,000 bar-
rels .

Since the U.S. Coast Guard began its Pollution Incident Reporting System
(PIRS) in 1971, it has been possible to examine oil spills in U. S. waters in
substantial detail. For the three years in which breakdowns by spill size
are available (1972, 1974, 1975), there were an average of only 24 spills per
year that exceeded 100,000 gallons (2,381 barrels) in size. These 24 "major"
oil spills per year constituted only 0.3% of the total number of spills, but
produced twothirds (68.7%) of the total oil pollution each year, averaging
about 11,400 barrels per spill. The PIRS reports also indicate that, during
the 1971-1975 period, oil tankers and tank barges were responsible for dis-
charges averaging 116,139 barrels per year or 29% of the average annual
total each year; that crude oil and residual fuels accounted for 60% of all
of the petroleum pollution in the United States during 1973-1975 (crude oil
alone, 49%); and that spills in ports, coastal estuaries, bays and sounds,
and non-navigable waterways accounted for 87% of the total oil discharged in
1971-1975. The PIRS reports do not completely account for oil spills in the
contiguous zone or on the adjacent high seas.

For all practical purposes, it appears that the predictions made by
Dillingham Corporation in 1970 remain true to this day. The Argo Merchant
oil spill was neither particularly unusual nor unexpected. The volume of oil
discharged (189,000 barrels) can be considered somewhat exceptional, but the
nature of the accident was not unusual. The Argo Merchant accident was a

highly visible example of an oil pollution problem that involves thousands of
spills each year, usually over 10,000 each year in U.S. waters alone. A
study of the Argo Merchant oil spill is a study of a chronic national, and
international, problem; one that shows no signs of going away in the foresee-
able future.

1.3 Chronology of Events

Activities set in motion in response to the grounding of the Argo Mer-
chant and the coordination of scientific research efforts by the NOAA-USCG
SOR Team from the time of the accident until February 12, 1977, are summar-
ized below. A full chronology of key events up to December 31, 1976 is
contained in Appendix II. Hours are Eastern Standard Time.

December 15 The Argo Merchant, carrying 7.7 million gallons of No. 6 fuel
oil aground on Nantucket Shoals, resulting in one of the
largest oil spills in United States history. Distress call
received by USCG at 0700. USCGC Vigilant on scene. National
Weather Service starts special forecasts for Fishing Rip area.
NOAA-USCG SOR Team sets up headquarters in Hyannis, Massachu-
setts, at 2100 and begins coordination of scientific efforts.

December 16 USCG assumes full control and responsibility for the Argo
Merchant under Intervention Convention at 1457. Weather
conditions worsen. All personnel evacuated from the tanker at
2300.

December 17 SOR Team personnel attend coordination meeting at 1600 at

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to develop scien-
tific response.

December 18 USCG reports large amount of oil spilled and geysers of oil

shooting upward. Heavy oil plume 7.5 miles long to the north-
west. Ship listing 20 . Seas building up. Oil "pancakes"
sighted by USCG 27 miles east of ship.

December 19 USCG reports that 1.5 million gallons of oil have entered the
sea and that the Argo Merchant is sinking at stern. Super-
tanker fenders rigged along side the tanker at 1430 in prepar-
ation for offloading to barges.

December 20 WHOI vessel Oceanus begins cruise 19.

December 21 Heavy seas. Argo Merchant splits aft of kingpost, releasing

approximately 1.5 million gallons of oil. Oceanus returns to

Woods Hole after taking water and sediment samples to north-
east of slick.

December 22 Bow section of Argo Merchant splits again. NOAA vessel Dela-
ware II and USCGC Evergreen depart for scientific cruises.
Scientific meeting in Boston called by EPA Administrator.

December 23

U. S. Navy divers take movies of underside of slick and bot-
tom. No visible oil on bottom.

December 24 Delaware II completes cruise DE 76-13,

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29
December 30
December 31

January 3

January 4

January 9

January 10

January 26

January 29

February 8

February 11

February 12

March 10

Forecast of onshore wind condition. USCG contractors notified
of possible beach cleanup operation at 1600. Overflight on
which "pancake 1" is identified.

Forecasting of onshore winds continued. 3000 drift cards
deployed as early warning system at 0940 between slick and
shore. "Pancake 1" located again by USCG overflight.

Another 3000 drift cards deployed between spill and Nantucket
at 0912. First attempt to burn oil. Evergreen cruise ends.
Ooeanus cruise 20 begins.

USCGC Bittersweet replaces Vigilant as on-scene vessel. En-
deavor cruise EN002 begins. On-Scene Coordinator's status
meeting and press conference at 1000.

Bow section starts to move under the influence of current.

Endeavor cruise EN002 ends.

Argo Merchant bow section holed by 20-mm cannon fire to pre-
vent drifting and remove navigational hazard. Second experi-
ment to burn oil from the Spar.

Coordination meeting at WHOI. Bow section observed moving
again.

Coordination meeting at WHOI continued. Delaware II cruise
DE77-01 begins.

Bow section totally underwater.

Delaware II cruise DE 7 7-01 ends.

Endeavor cruise EN003 begins.

Endeavor cruise EN003 terminated because of weather.

Bow section of Argo Merchant relocated 1 mile to the southeast
of stern and found empty of oil. Endeavor cruise EN004 begins.

Oil found in bottom sediments near now section.

Endeavor cruise EN004 ends after completing initial benthic
survey.

"Tar balls" up to a foot in diameter reported washing ashore
on Nantucket Island's southwest coast. Samples sent to WHOI
to determine whether original is crude or refined petroleum;
analysis will not be able to establish whether the material
came from the Argo Merchant spill or from another spill of No.
6 fuel oil.

1.4 Participants

Representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) , including personnel from the Environmental Research Laboratories
(ERL) , Environmental Data Service (EDS), and National Marine Fisheries Ser-
vice (NMFS), worked on the scene of the grounded Argo Merchant. The National
Weather Service, although not on scene, responded to the spill with special
weather forecasts.

The NOAA-U. S. Coast Guard Spilled Oil Research (SOR) program is managed
by the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program Office of
NOAA's Environmental Research Laboratories and is funded in part by the
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. The SOR Team, in
addition to conducting its own limited research, assisted in the coordination
of research activities launched in response to the oil spill at the request
of the Federal On-Scene Coordinator. These research activities include
photographically documenting the behavior of the oil, and measuring oil
velocities and oil-water differential velocities from overflights in char-
tered aircraft and USCG planes and helicopters. The SOR Team dropped drift
cards and deployed a satellite-tracked buoy as part of oil-mapping efforts.
The team also made surface current measurements as input for trajectory
predictions, and sampled the oil and water column over time to study the
effect and extent of weathering.

Special forecasts were provided by the National Weater Service for the
Nantucket Shoals - Fishing Rip area in support of the OSC. Two to six fore-
casts per day were available on demand commencing at noon December 15.
Hourly surface weather data were collected for the Massachusetts coast.

The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) conducted two cruises on
the NOAA research vessel Delaware II in the area of the grounding, taking
temperature profiles and sampling fish, plankton, water and sediments.
Samples of fish and invertebrates were selected for hydrocarbon analysis.
NMFS analyzed the biological samples for impact of Argo Merchant oil and
collected a port survey to assess the impact on fishing activities.

The Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis (CEDDA) of NOAA's
Environmental Data Service carried out a modeling study based on historical
wind records and local current measurements at the request of the OSC on
December 28. They also supplied additional manpower to augment the Spilled
Oil Research Team's efforts at Cape Cod as did NOAA's Environmental Research
Laboratory. The NOAA Data Buoy Office made satellite tracked drifting buoys
available for use in tracking oil and measuring currents. CEDDA personnel
prepared an interim report on January 3, 1977, for use by all participating
investigators and also prepared this report.

The U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) served as the focal point for all opera-
tional activities through the Marine Safety Office, First Coast Guard Dis-
trict, Boston, Massachusetts, with support from the Coast Guard Oceano-
graphic Unit, Washington, D. C, and in addition participated in the research
program through the Coast Guard Research and Development Center, Groton,
Connecticut .

8

Operational activities were directed by Captain Lynn Hein, the Federal
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) from the USCG Cape Cod Air Station. Research-
related activities conducted by the OSC included the collection of hourly
meteorological data from the cutters Vigilant and Bittersweet, which were
stationed at the wreck site from December 15 to 31, 1976. Following brief
instructions from the SOR Team, officers on these cutters collected water
samples, from beneath the spilled oil for petroleum hydrocarbon analysis.
The USCG personnel also conducted surveillance flights to map the extent of
the spilled oil and to measure sea surface temperatures. Based on modeling
inputs and mapping information, they generated daily predictions of the
location of the oil. In addition, they supplied logistics on Coast Guard
aircraft and ships, on a noninterference basis, to allow scientific investi-
gators access to the site of the spill.

The USCG Research and Development Center was active in assisting the
OSC, as well as in conducting research on the spilled oil. Center personnel
supplied short and long-term predictions of oil movement through modeling
efforts, and conducted an experiment to burn the oil. They conducted a
research cruise from the cutter Evergreen to collect water and sediment
samples for PHC analysis, and photographed the bottom in an effort to locate
oil contamination. R. Jadamec was responsible for the hydrocarbon screening
of all water and sediment samples collected by participating investigators.
Center personnel also played an active role on the SOR Team.

The U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command provided a team of
divers equipped for underwater cinematography and photography at NOAA's
request. Diving under the floating oil, they photographed and described the
morphology of the underside of the slick, and determined the potential
implications to fisheries by observing the presence or absence of visible oil
in the water column and on the sea bottom. The Naval Underwater System
Center also supplied a current meter mooring, which was implanted from the
Endeavor .

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) , Department of the Interior, pro-
vided financial support for the NOAA-Coast Guard Spilled Oil Research Program
as well as several contractors involved in the North Atlantic Georges Bank
Continental Shelf environmental studies program. Aero-Marine Surveys, Inc.
Raytheon and EG&G, all BLM contractors, augmented USCG slick mapping efforts
and temperature and current observations. They also carried out oil slick
characterizations from overflights.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provided high
altitude photographic overflights, Landsat coverage checks, and false color
infrared photomosaic composites with the assistance of the U.S. Air Force
Tactical Air Command. Significant wave heights were measured by the Geo-
dynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite. NASA also computed drifting buoy
positions from Nimbus-F data and facilitated their delivery for on-scene use
in flight planning.

Under contract to the Environmental Protection Agency, the New England
Air Photo Association conducted photographic overflights of the Argo Merchant
spill, from which EPA constructed natural color mosaics of the oil slick.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at Woods Hole emplaced two current
meter systems, which recorded suspended sediment conditions, current speed
and direction, and water depth while photographing the bottom. Six current
meters were also deployed by USGS as part of an ongoing program designed to
study currents and sediment transport on the Georges Bank Region in coopera-
tion with WHO I, BLM, and EG&G. An oil spill risk analysis model was run at
the Reston, Virginia office of USGS.

The Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) through the
Division of Environmental Control Technology provided partial funding for oil
trajectory modeling under M. Spaulding, chemical analysis of water and sedi-
ment samples under C. Brown, and oil droplet size distribution determinations
under P. Cornillon, all of the University of Rhode Island, through Contract
EY-76-S-02-4047, "Environmental Assessment of Treated Oil Spills vs. Untreated
Oil Spills."

The National Science Foundation supported research activities and ship
operations at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of
Rhode Island.

The State of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife instituted
a collection and clean-up effort for oil birds.

The University of Rhode Island (URI) conducted four cruises to the oil
spill site aboard the R/V Endeavor. The first cruise, funded in Fart by NSF
and ERDA, included the deployment of a current meter array; collection and
analysis of sediment samples for hydrocarbons; collection and analysis of
water samples for hydrocarbons, physical properties, oxygen content, nutri-
ents, and trace metals; and the collection and description of benthic and
planktonic organisms. URI ' s second and third Endeavor cruises, funded in
part by NOAA, conducted a bottom survey of the Nantucket Shoals-Little
George's Bank. The fourth Endeavor cruise, funded in part by NOAA, determined
the areal extent of the bottom contamination. URI personnel, in an ERDA-
funded project, carried out some trajectory forecast modeling, and studied
the physical and chemical characteristics of the oil.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) conducted two cruises on the
R/V Ooeanus II, sampling both water column and sediments, and characterizing
the physical oceanography of the spill site. WHOI participated in a Nantuc-
ket littoral zone survey coordinated by NOAA. Scientists from the Marine
Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole and the University of Massachusetts
joined WHOI in the Nantucket survey. Peter Fricke of WHOI was responsible
for procuring oil that was physically and chemically congruent to the Argo
Merchant cargo for analytical purposes and toxicity studies.

Jerry Milgram of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology collected oil
from one of the Argo Merchant cargo tanks and from the oil slick and analyzed
the physical properties of both samples.

The Manomet Bird Observatory provided data on seabird observations from
various locations including the USCGC Vigilant on-scene at Fishing Rip.

10

Individuals who contributed to various aspects of the total research
effort include Ron Kolpack of the University of Southern California, who
supplied expertise in hydrocarbon-sediment interaction; Ben Baxter, who
contributed his knowledge as a trained marine mammal observer; and Barbara
Morson, who provided seabird expertise.

References

National Academy of Sciences, 1975. "Petroleum in The Marine Environment,"
NAS, Washington, D.C. 20418, 107pp.

Keith, V. V., and J. D. Porricelli, 1973. "An Analysis of Oil Outflows due
to Tanker Accidents," in Proceedings of Joint Conference on Prevention
and Control of Oil Spills," American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.
20006, pp. 3-14.

Gilmore, G. A., D. D. Smith, A. H. Rice, E. H. Shenton , and W. H. Moser, 1970.
"Systems Study of Oil Spill Cleanup Procedures," Dillingham Corporation
Report, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C. 20006.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1973. "Oil Spill in Rhode Island," Vol. 4.(6) ,
p. 84 {Pennant spill).

North, W. J., 1967. "Tampico : A Study of Destruction and Restoration,"
Sea Frontiers, 13(8), pp. 212-217.

Forrester, W. D., 1971. "Distribution of Oil Particles Following the
Grounding of the Tanker Arrow," J. Mar. Res. , 29, pp. 151-170.

Strangham, D., 1971. Editor, "Biological and Oceanographic Survey of the
Santa Barbara Channel Oil Spill 1969-1970," Vol. 1, "Biology and
Bacteriology," Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, 426 pp.

Kolpack, R. L. , 1971. Editor, "Biological and Oceanographic Survey of the
Santa Barbara Channel Oil Spill 1969-1970," Vol. II, "Physical, Chemical,
and Geological Studies," Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, 477 pp.

Chan, G. L. , 1973. " A Study of the Effects of the San Francisco Oil Spill
on Marine Organisms," in Proceedings of Joint Conference on Prevention and
Control of Oil Spills, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.
20006, pp. 741-782.

"Polluting Incidents in and Around U.S. Waters," Calendar Years 1971, 1972,
1973, 1974, and 1975, Commandant (G-WEP) , U.S. Coast Guard, Washington,
D.C. 20590.

11

2. INVESTIGATIONS OF PHYSICAL PROCESSES

In order to determine the factors that cause oil spill transport and the
rates at which the spill changes physically with time, a series of studies
were conducted that combined both modeling and observation of transport pro-
cesses. The objective of this research is to upgrade models capable of
forecasting oil spill trajectories and/or probabilities of shoreline impact
under various environmental conditions.

The motion of oil floating on water is determined by three factors:
currents, waves, and winds. While the oil is bodily carried by water cur-
rents, it is capable of sliding relative to the water in response to the
forces of waves and winds. It has been long known that oil placed on the
water surface will absorb the smaller and shorter waves by viscous decay and
act to calm the seas. Additionally, the irrotational nature of wave motion
generates a drift at the water surface (stokes drift), but this irrotational
motion does not satisfy boundary conditions at the free surface, and as a
result vorticity is generated. In the presence of an oil film, the vorticity
generated at the surface quickly propagates vertically through the oil be-
cause of its relatively high viscosity and increases the surface speed (Mil-
gram 1977) . This increase in speed is considerably larger than the contri-
bution caused by wave absorption. The mechanism by which oil gains velocity
is not fully understood, but it is a function of wave length and height, the
thickness of the oil, the physical properties of the oil, such as surface
tension and visocity, and the physical properties of the oil-water interface.
Wind, in addition to being the prime generator of waves, can also act di-
rectly on the surface oil, causing a transfer of energy from the wind to the
oil.

Although many oil spills have occurred in cold-water environments, in-
struments have not been adequate to measure these spills and to characterize
their behavior and the surrounding environment in sufficient detail to pro-
vide all the data required to compare actual spill behavior with trajectory
model forecasts. Such characterization requires measurements of environ-
mental conditions, both within and outside the spill, as well as a fixed
reference point to which one can relate spill movements.

Throughout the course of the effort connected with the Argo Merchant,
NOAA and USCG researchers continually compared model-generated forecasts of
oil spill trajectories with the observed behavior of oil in the marine envi-
ronment. These comparisons were required to evaluate the accuracy of the oil
spill forecasts at various phases in the program, and to identify those ele-
ments of the modeling effort that needed refining and of the observational
program that needed strengthening.

2.1 Techniques of Field Efforts

Numerous agencies and institutions participated in studying the physical
processes that the oil from the Argo Merchant underwent. These included the
NOAA-USCG SOR Team, USCG, NASA, EPA, NOAA's Flight Operation Group and Data
Buoy Office, and Aero-Marine Surveys, Inc. (a BLM subcontractor), USGS , and

12

WHOI. Observational platforms included satellites, aircraft, ships and
buoys. Each of the participating groups conducted multifaceted operations
and used different techniques. These are described in the sections that
follow.

2.1.1 Airborne Operations

Observations were made from the Landsat II, NOAA, and GEOS satellites,
and from various government aircraft operated by the USCG, NASA, NOAA, as
well as private aircraft sponsored by the SOR Team, EPA, and AMSI. Details
on these overflights are given in Appendix VI. In general, weather condi-
tions at the site of the wreck were unfavorable for most of these activities.
Winds were typically greater than 20 knots and at times in excess of 40.
Only on a few days was the cloud base higher than 1000 feet; mostly it was
500 feet or less. To the east of the shoals heavy clouds covered the Contin-
ental Shelf and Slope out past the Gulf Stream 90% of the time. Icing condi-
tions severely limited aircraft operations on several days.

Only a few satellite passes provided useful information because of the
cloud cover. Also, the resolutions of all satellites, except possibly Land-
sat, prohibit the actual tracking or mapping of oil. Infrared (IR) imagery
from the NOAA and GOES satellites was very limited, and only small portions
of the Gulf Stream could be delineated on it.

The USCG supported the SOR Team and other activities by supplying air-
craft logistics in HU-16E fixed-wing aircraft and H-3 helicopters. The HU-
16E missions were primarily for mapping the extent of the oil, while the H-3
missions were generally aimed at measuring transport processes. All missions
were multipurpose.

The USCG mapping effort was coordinated by J. Deaver of the USCG Oceano-
graphic Unit and consisted of a "real-time" description obtained by visual
and IR observations, as well as photographic recordings that will eventually
refine the real-time effort. In addition to its contribution to the research
effort, this real-time work will prove vital to the assessment of any immedi-
ate and long-term impacts.

The USCG's first mapping flight was on December 17, 1976, and included
two SOR Team members. This flight permitted visual, photographic, and video-
tape observations of the site of the wreck, current measurements, and two
transects of IR sea surface temperature before weather caused termination of
the flight. The next day a more extensive survey was conducted which in-
cluded differential velocity measurements (oil/water), current measurements,
sea surface temperature measurements, as well as oil surveillance. At the
conclusion of this flight, the Federal-On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) and the SOR
Team concluded that continuing real-time reconnaissance was essential to
scientific as well as operational goals. Daily mapping operations were con-
ducted until January 5, 1977, except when interrupted by severe weather on
December 28 and 29, 1976, and by an engine failure on December 30. Addi-
tional mapping flights were flown in January on an irregular basis. Ob-
servers on all these flights included both USCG Oceanographic Unit and SOR
Team personnel, with the USCG personnel operating all the equipment.

13

Oil mapping flights were conducted by two observers flying in an HU-16E
at 500 feet or below at a speed of 145 knots. Continuous visual contact with
the sea surface was maintained from shoreline departure until return. A
grid-like search track was used, consisting of station points every 10 miles
(or an average of 4.2 minutes) flying time. Loran A, radar, and TACAN were
used as navigational aids. Infrared sea surface temperatures were measured
by a Barnes PRT-5 radiometer and recorded continuously on an analog strip
chart recorder to a precision of 0.1°C and an accuracy of + 0.6°C. Visual
sightings of oil, size, direction of surface drift, and time of observation
were annotated on the IR strip chart trace. The oil sightings were also
noted on a plotting chart, which was a duplicate of the navigator's chart.
Concentrations of oil were separated by a core and shell limit contours.
Percentage of concentration and size were determined by a gridded viewing
device, a clear plastic grid divided into 25 squares. This device had an
inclinometer attached to the side. When viewing from the aircraft in level
flight, the observer could thus determine not only the area of an object on
the surface, but also the percentage of surface covered. At fractional
surface area coverages of less than 5 to 10%, the visual estimates appear to
be high by a factor of 2 to 4, but it is hoped that good NASA or AMSI over-
flights with photographic coverage will provide a scalar correction factor
for these low surface coverages. Also plotted with the oil sightings were
surface temperature contour crossings. These strong thermal gradients are
indicators of current boundaries, and will aid in the overall analysis.

The H-3 helicopter missions generally were aimed at measuring oil trans-
port processes and collecting oil samples. During these flights, current
measurements were acquired with Richardson current probes, while differential
oil/water velocities were measured by means of time lapse photography and
special range finders to record the separation of oil pancakes and dye mark-
ers in the water. Oil samples from the slicks were taken using a small
bucket, with the helicopter hovering at 100 feet. Drifting buoys were also
deployed on various occasions from these aircraft.

More than 28 operational missions were flown by the USCG for oil mapping
and in partial response to scientific requests, accounting for more than 114
hours of air time. The true value of this response to the research effort
cannot be estimated, but without USCG logistic support studies of physical
processes would have been marginal or nonexistent.

NASA overflights were conducted on December 19 and 22, 1976, and on
January 3, 5, and 6, 1977, under the general direction of J. Mugler, Langley
Research Center (LRC) , NASA. Table VII-1 (in Appendix VII) presents the
flight log for the December 19 overflight and Figure 2-1 shows the flight
lines. The flight log for the NASA overflight on December 22, 1976, is shown
in Table VII-2 and the flight lines are shown in Figure VII-1. The flight
logs and flight lines for the NASA overflights on January 3, 5, and 6 are
shown in Tables VII-3 to VII-5 and Figures VII-2 to VII-4.

Imagery was obtained from the Landsat II satellite during overpasses
near the grounded tanker on December 22 and 23, 1976, and on January 9, 1977.
Maps showing the approximate ground coverage expected for these images are
presented in Figures VII-5 and VII-6. On December 22, 1976, cloud cover was

14

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about 90% over the region covered by the Landsat imagery, and no useful data
could be extracted. On December 23, 1976, cloud cover was about 70 to 80%.
There appeared to be several breaks in the cloud cover; however, analysis of
the imagery by D. Bowker, LRC, NASA, using digital and density slicing
techniques failed to identify oil on the ocean surface. On January 9, 1977,
cloud cover was about 20%; again, however, analysis of the imagery failed to
show oil on the ocean surface.

EPA sponsored three overflights of the wreck site on December 18, 19,
and 22. These flights were conducted by New England Airphoto Associates,
Inc., of Shrewsberry, Massachusetts, in a Cessna TU 206. Approximately 300
9- x 9-inch color photographs were taken with a vertical aerial camera. Very
few of the photographs on the first flight are usable because of the low
ceiling, but 96 photographs were taken on December 19, and 199 on December
22. The last two flight tracks were nearly coincident in time and space with
the NASA coverage (Figures 2-1 and VII-1) , so both large format color and
color IR photographs are available for analysis. The EPA photography can be
obtained from EPA, P.O. Box 15027, Las Vegas, Nevada 89114.

A NOAA C-130 conducted two oil mapping flights on January 12 and 13,
1977. These flights were requested by the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC),
Captain L. Hein, through personnel of the Marine Ecoystems Analysis (MESA)
Program Office because USCG aircraft (HU-16E) were unable to reach the dis-
tant area where the oil was thought to be. Both of these flights were funded
by the OCS and carried NOAA and USCG personnel to conduct the observations.
Both flights located oil southeast of the Avgo Merchant at distances of more
than 100 miles (see maps IV- 19 and IV-20, Appendix IV).

Aero-Marine Surveys, Inc. (AMSI) of New London, Connecticut, is the
Raytheon Company's subcontractor for Lagrangian tracer studies of the Bureau
of Land Management's (BLM) New England Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Physical
Oceanography study. EG&G is also involved in these physical oceanography
studies under a separate contract from BLM. The main objective of the Lag-
rangian investigations is to define the regional, local and fine-grain sur-
face currents of Georges Bank in the context of the transport of oils re-
leased in the course of oil production. From a broader view, there is the
hope that new knowledge on oil transport will emerge.

The two companies' involvement with the Avgo Merchant spill began short-
ly after the vessel ran aground, and by the week's end representatives had
arrived in Hyannis, Massachusetts. EG&G made contact with appropriate NOAA
and USCG personnel and accompanied members of the SOR Team on reconnaissance
flights in chartered aircraft. AMSI positioned a twin-engine marine survey
airplane in Hyannis on Wednesday, December 22, after having received authori-
zation from BLM through Raytheon to mount a limited field survey effort in
cooperation with EG&G.

Efforts were made to augment the USCG oil mapping work with additional
coverage by AMSI. Operational tasks included visual observations, dropping
of drift cards, and temperature measurements. The most important measure-
ments may be realized in widely distributed vertical photographs obtained by
AMSI portraying the oil "pancakes" in detail. This might permit a correlation

16

between USCG observations by J. Deaver and NASA and EPA imagery, and model
outputs.

Current observations were obtained by AMSI by means of dye markers,
vertical photography, and a combination of Loran-C and fixed references.
These were central to the BLM support, but will also undoubtedly aid in model
validation efforts. Results must await return of the color film, and it is
anticipated that the data loss will be high because of severe weather condi-
tions, technical difficulties, and the experimental nature of the techniques
used.

Sea surface temperature measurements were obtained with a Barnes PRT-5-S
IR radiometer (9.5 to 11.5 microns, linear output), which was virtually
identical to the one used by USCG. There were technical difficulties on the
first several flights, but later data should be quite good (+ 0.5°C).

Data reduction will be confined to current and sea surface temperature
observations.

2.1.2 Ship Operations

Operations to support investigations of physical processes were con-
ducted from ships supported or operated by USCG, the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and by the University
of Rhode Island. Cruise descriptions are contained in Appendix V.

USCG had cutters stationed continuously at the wreck site from the day
of the grounding, December 15, 1976, until December 31. These vessels, the
Vigilant and Bittersweet, collected hourly surface meteorological data,
acquired water samples for chemical analysis, and supported many other activ-
ities in response to OSC requests. The USCGC Evergreen conducted a sampling
cruise to study the fate of the spilled oil and the cutter Spar participated
in the oil burning tests as well as supporting other research.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at Woods Hole Massachusetts, chartered
the tug Uhitefoot for implanting current meter moorings as well as acquiring
bottom sediment samples, and WHOI sponsored two cruises of the Oceanus , which
collected water and sediment samples and implanted a current meter mooring.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) sponsored four cruises of the Endeavor,
which also collected water and sediment samples and implanted a current meter
mooring.

2.2 Results of Field Efforts

The results of the field efforts are included under six headings: map-
ping, physical observations, water motion measurements, oil and differential
oil/water velocity measurements, water mass observations, and meteorological
observations.

17

2.2.1 Mapping

The mapping of the Argo Merchant spill was more extensive than in the
case of any previous spill because of the overall concern with the immediate
location and potential impact of this particular spill, and because of the
SOR Team's goal of gaining information that could be used to improve predic-
tive modeling. The mapping was a coordinated effort involving several tech-
niques (visual, IR, and photographic) and a number of organizations (NOAA,
USCG, ADECS AMSI, NASA, EPA and BLM) , with J. Deaver of the USCG Oceano-
graphic Unit being the principal producer of daily oil-slick maps. In addi-
tion to the formal imagery, videotapes and photographs of the spill were
taken by the USCG and several representatives of the news media. Most of
these records have been identified and are being collected, collated, and
summarized by the SOR Team. Interpretation of these data and their ultimate
use in improving predictive modeling will constitute an important part of the
follow-on research effort.

Among the initial results of the mapping effort was the description of
the formation and movement of large "pancakes" (large, thick oil slicks) ,
which maintain their cohesiveness and integrity for long periods of time.
There has been considerable interest in the motion and dispersion of such
pancakes. Experience gained in an earlier spill in the Florida Keys indi-
cated that they are up to 6 inches thick and that the volume of oil on the
surface can be quite substantial. When several pancakes 50 to 90 feet in
diameter were spotted on the 5th day of the Argo Merchant spill, an effort
was begun to describe this phenomenon more fully and to parameterize the
process for modeling purposes. On Christmas Day, a 450-foot by 760-foot
pancake, estimated to contain the order of 1/2 million gallons of oil, was
found (Appendix III, Photographs 37 and 38). On December 31, NOAA and USCG
placed a satellite-tracked buoy on this pancake, and the buoy's position is
being constantly tracked by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via the Nimhus-F
satellite (see Section 2.2.3).

Oil-slick maps of good quality were obtained on most flights in spite of
bad weather (Figure 2-2) . Good IR data were obtained less often because of
technical problems. The complete set of available maps, up to January 7,
1977, are contained in Appendix IV. These maps are tracings by K. Kidwell of
EDS, NOAA, of the flight maps prepared on the scene by J. Deaver of the USCG
Oceanographic Unit on oil survey flights for the Federal On-Scene Coordin-
ator's operational use. They show actual oil sightings, and include an
interpretation of oil distribution based on the flight tracks. All maps to
date show the flight tracks; the extent, nature, and concentration of oil;
and, when available, surface temperature data. Oil is presented at approxi-
mately three contour levels: (1) threshold - light; (2) light - moderate;
and (3) moderate - heavy.

Spot estimates of percentage of surface area covered by oil pancakes are
also given. These numbers are derived from visual observations and, as
indicated above, are only rough estimates and tend to be somewhat high (pos-
sibly by a factor of 2 to 10) . Included also are estimates of the size of
pancakes, marine mammal sightings (see Section 4.3, and Photograph 28, Appen-
dix III) and miscellaneous notes. Sea surface temperatures are depicted,

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19

where available, by 1°C contours. Geographic accuracy is that of Loran-A.
Strip charts, flight charts, logs, and other original material are being
archived by NOAA's Environmental Data Service.

Three conclusions are evident from the oil slick maps. First, the oil
distribution was primarily influenced by the clockwise rotary tidal currents
and the local winds up until December 21, 1976 as evidenced by the hook
pattern on maps IV-1 to IV-5 in Appendix IV. Second, the movement of the oil
was offshore to the east-southeast. The speed of the oil was approximately
1.6 knots on December 20-21, and 1.4 knots on December 21-22 under the influ-
ence of mean west winds of 30 knots. Third, the oil was not observed north
of 41° 21' (map IV-5 in Appendix IV) northwest of 70° 10' (map IV-1 7 in
Appendix IV) . Furthermore, the slick was not observed closer than 15 miles
off shore of Nantucket (map IV-1 7 in Appendix IV) .

2.2.2 Physical Observations

During the course of the oil spill visual and photographic observations
were made of the behavior of the No. 6 fuel in cold water. These observa-
tions were made to answer the following questions:

1. What is the life cycle of oil pancakes?

2. How does the oil pick up motion from wind or waves?

3. What are the dynamics of the underside of oil slicks?

4. How does oil get accommodated into the water column?

Few immediate answers were found to these questions, although more data
than ever before was collected. Over the next few months, these data will be
more carefully analyzed to provide a better understanding of oil behavior in
cold water. The data and findings to date are described below.

The SOR Team collected more than 800 photographs during the period
covered by this report. A selected group has been included in Appendix III.
These photographs show (1) the history of the oil discharge from the Argo
Merchant (Photographs 1 to 16); (2) details of oil distribution and pancake
formation and life cycle (Photographs 17 to 28 and 37 to 42) ; (3) details of
oil behavior and bottom side morphology (Photographs 29 to 32) ; (4) tech-
niques of measuring water and differential oil/water velocities (Photographs
33 to 36); (5) burn tests (Photographs 42 to 44), oil sampling (Photographs
45 and 46), and local fauna (Photographs 47 and 48). Aerial photographs were
taken to calibrate visual estimates of the areal extent of pancakes and sheen
in oiled areas. Vertical aerial photography was obtained on NASA, AMSI, and
EPA overflights. Of particular interest in describing the behavior of the
oil are the NASA flights on December 19 and 22.

The NASA overflight on December 19 yielded 202 infrared 9" x 9" color
photographs along the flight track shown in Figure 2-1. Twelve legs were
flown over a period of 1 hour and 52 minutes (Table VII-1) . Five frames were
selected and printed to show typical results (Photographs 17 through 21,

20

Appendix III) . A strip mosaic of data from the December 19 overflight was
constructed by the Air Force 9th Tactical Intelligence Squadron, Langley Air
Force Base, Virginia (Photograph 22) . The location and geometry of the plume
can be seen faintly in this strip mosaic.

Additional photographs superimposed on the strip mosaic in Photograph 22
are shown in strip mosaic form in Photograph 23, which therefore represents
all the imagery obtained during the December 19 overflight and may be useful
for more detailed studies of the plume characteristics. On several of the
flight lines photographs of the slick were obtained, with time separations
that provide quantitative information on the motions of the oil in this
region. Photographs 19 and 20 are of the same area separated by about 9
minutes. Photograph 19 was taken at 10:29:03; its nadir point is 41° 0.2 N,
69° 20.3 W, and the vertical edge is 5°. Photograph 20 was taken 9 minutes
later at 10:37:47. Its nadir point was 41° 01.8 N, 69° 19.8 W, or 3300 feet
away in a direction of 136°. The orientation of this photograph is 348°.
The width of the photo is approximately 7850 feet. These two photographs
indicate that the oil slick rotated 5° counterclockwise in a region of cur-
rent shear and moved about 0.44 mile to the southeast. Also indicated are
the development of stringers at almost right angles to the direction of the
wind (250°). It should be noted that the coordinates given to NASA for the
location of the Argo Merchant on December 19 were not correct. They were
given as 40° 01' N, 69° 28.5' W, but the actual coordinates were 40° 02' N,
69° 24.5' W. Thus, the grid labeling on the mosaics is incorrect by 1 minute
in both latitude and longitude.

Coverage from the NASA overflight on December 22 is shown in Figure VII-
1, which also gives the approximate locations of five frames taken during
that flight. Typical examples of the photographs obtained are shown in
Photographs 24 to 28 (Appendix III) . Data from the flights on December 22
and January 3, 5, and 6 are being printed and reviewed.

On December 21, the SOR Team requested support from the U. S. Navy to
supply a diving team to examine the underside of the oil slick from the Argo
Merchant. Four divers from the Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command responded
to the request and were on the scene on December 23. During the dive they
acquired 200 feet of 16-millimeter color movie footage, as well as numerous
still phtographs. The following debriefing describes their findings.

The four Navy divers were transported by a USCG helicopter to the Vigi-
lant at 0830 AM on December 23, 1976. By 1030, two divers were in the water.
Both had trouble descending because of the cold water, 5 to 6°C (41 to 43°F) .
The cutter had given them a depth indication of 48 feet, but to their sur-
prise the bottom was at 140 feet. The precise location of the divers is not
known, but they were directly under the path of the oil slick, which was
headed northeast from the Argo Merchant. The visibility was 10 to 20 feet.
The divers hit bottom and tried to get good visual coverage. The bottom was
clean white sand, covered with clams. The divers made a complete circle
without spending too much time on the bottom. They filmed and observed a 10-
to 15-foot square area and found no visual traces of oil. (The oil slick had
passed over the area they observed because of tides twice a day for 7 days.)
When the divers came back up, the oil looked like "burned carbon" and also

21

appeared corrugated (from wave action). The oil behaved "like mercury." A
bubble of air would come up and move the oil out of a circle; wave action
might keep it apart for a while, but it would then come back together (Photo-
graph 20, Appendix III). The general area of the slick was sheen oil. Within
that sheen, there were several pancakes. No oil extended beneath the pan-
cakes and the bottoms of the pancakes were flat, similar to the tops. The
thickness of the oil above the heads of the divers was 1^ to 2 inches.
similar to what the SOR Team observed on Sunday, December 19, at the end of
18 miles of slick. The photo-graphed pancake was 8 to 10 feet wide and 30
feet long. Its edges were well defined and no feathering was observed (Photo-
graph 30). The current was no more than 3/4 knots. In order to observe the
water motion directly under the slick, the divers released dye into the
water. Some of the dye moved with, some behind, and some ahead of the oil
(Photograph 31) . They saw one dye streamer sitting on the underside of the
pancake and staying with it. This is documented in the movie coverage. When
taking pictures of one certain glob of oil, the divers were 10 to 15 feet
from it. There seemed to be a lot of dye in one area. The oil was moving
back and away, and the dye was coming forward. A very light breeze was
blowing on the surface. The only time the divers experienced a stinging
sensation from the oil was when they were cleaning up. They found the best
cleanser to be "Edge" shaving cream.

During the many sightings of large pancakes of oil on mapping flights,
it was observed that oil sheen was generally upwind of the pancakes (Photo-
graphs 37 and 44, in Appendix III). This implies that the sheen is fed from
the pancakes and moves at a slightly slower velocity, consistent with the
concept that the dif f erentical oil/water velocity is somehow proportional to
oil thickness.

The following estimates of the thickness of the oil slick and pancakes
were acquired:

Date

Location

12/19/76 End of slick
12/23/76 Slick near Argo

Merchant
12/25/76 Pancake #1
12/31/76 Pancake

Age
(days)

Thickness
(inches)

2-3
1-2

2
1.5-2

5-8
8-13

4-6
6-10

Comments

Visual during SOR sampling
Divers - visual estimate

Estimated from the Vigilant
Estimated from the Spar

While it is true that these measurements were not made on the same parcel of
oil, it appears that the pancakes consolidated and got thicker as they aged.

2.2.3

Water Motion Measurements

Both Eulerian (at a point) and Lagrangian (following a parcel) water
motion measurements were obtained in the vicinity of the Argo Merchant and
the oil released from it. In addition some historical data have been un-
covered and are available. It should be noted that in the immediate area of

22

the wreck there are strong tidal currents, which at times exceed 2 knots.
One measurement indicated approximately 6 knots. These currents are strongly
influenced by local topography, and extrapolation may be very difficult if
not impossible. Table VII-6 in Appendix VII contains tide predictions from
the National Ocean Survey (NOS), NOAA.

Eulerian water motion measurements were obtained by standard current
meter techniques as well as by current probes deployable from the air. In
response to the oil spill, six moorings for measuring water currents were
implanted. B. Butman, USGS, Massachusetts, implanted four current meter
moorings from the tug White foot . Three of these moorings contained one or
more self-recording current meters, while the fourth (121) was a tripod
mooring that recorded sediment conditions, currents, water depths, light
transmission, and bottom photographs every four hours. A current meter
mooring was also implanted at the Nantucket Light Ship during Cruise 20 of
the Oceanus on December 28. Before the oil spill on December 5, B. Butman
and D. Folger, USGS, had implanted a current meter mooring in the area from
the Oceanus . The Endeavor implanted a current meter mooring supplied by D.
Shonting of the Underwater Systems Center (NUSC) on December 29, 1976. An
attempt to recover this mooring on February 9, 1977, was unsuccessful because
it could not be relocated. Attempts to relocate this mooring are continuing.
All these moorings were to be retrieved during February or March 1977, and
the data obtained will be available through EDS, NOAA. In the historical
past, NOS has measured currents to support tidal table generation in the area
where the Argo Merchant foundered. These records are of short duration and
are available through EDS. Three sites were covered in 1960 and three others
in 1932. Table VII-7 gives the characteristics of all current moorings, and
Figure 2-3 shows their locations.

In response to the spill, single-point measurements were obtained by the
SOR Team and by AMSI with Richardson current probes (Photographs 33 and 34,
Appendix III) deployed from the air. These current probes operate by releas-
ing packets of dye at known time intervals after they are resting on the
bottom. The packets rise to the surface whency they are carried by the
surface currents. By assuming that they follow the same path from the bottom
to the surface (i.e., the vertical current structure is constant), then the
separation of the dye packets when they are both on the surface is only a
function of the surface current velocity and t;he known time interval between
releases. Table 2-1 gives the results of these measurements, most of which
were taken in support of oil and oil/water differential velocity studies (see
Section 2.2.4) .

Lagrangian water motion measurements were obtained by tracking, as a
function of time, USCG datum marker buoys (DMBs) , large sheets of plywood,
large dye patches, drift cards, sea bed drifters, and a NOAA drifting buoy.

DMBs are generally used by USCG for search and rescue missions. They
are tracked by a radio beacon and have an operational life of 36 hours.
Since these buoys do not transmit a unique identifier, there may be confusion
if many are deployed in the same region. Five DMBs were deployed, as in-
dicated in Table VII-8 in Appendix VII, and tracked. The first was tracked
from 1048 on December 18 until 1023 on December 20, showing four positions.

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The second DMB was launched at 1020 on December 27 and was believed to be
spotted on December 31 at approximately noon after traveling 21.5 nautical
miles in a direction of 135° (0.22 knots). The third DMB was deployed in a
large pancake on December 31 at 1340, and the NOAA drifting buoy was dropped
in this same pancake at 1630. Unfortunately, a good position indication was
not obtained because of instrument problems at 1630, but the buoy position at
2217 is known.

Sheets of plywood (4 feet x 8 feet) were deployed from USCG cutters into
the oil slick on four occasions, as indicated in Table VII-8. Only one of
these drifters was ever relocated.

Drift cards were dropped from aircraft on several occasions for two
purposes. The most important one was to serve as an early warning system
when east or southeast winds threatened to blow the oil ashore. Each of
these releases consisted of 1000 cards, and their positions and times are
noted in Table VII-9 and Figure 2-4. Fortunately, the east winds were not
sustained, and no drift cards have been recovered from shore. The second
reason for using drift cards was to mark particular areas of oil for visual
reference during transport studies. These deployments were generally made in
batches of 25 cards. However, 100 were deployed on December 26 on top of the
large "pancake 1," and positively identified this pancake when it was re-
spotted on December 27. On the NOAA C-130 flight on January 12, 1977, drift
cards were observed in oil at 38° 45'N, from 65 to 66°W, confirming that this
oil was from the Argo Merchant.

In order to help predict the course of the oil slick, it was decided
during the evening of December 28 to try and deploy a trackable buoy into a
pancake of oil as soon as possible. A NOAA drifting buoy that communicates
its position through the Nimbus-F satellite was chosen to be the candidate
buoy. The NOAA Data Buoy Office, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, responded to
the request and arranged for two buoys to be delivered to Hyannis, Massachu-
setts. One buoy (ID #343) was borrowed from Nova University and was delivered
on December 30. A backup buoy (ID #567) was delivered from the manufacturer
in Los Angeles, California, on January 1, 1977. This buoy was never used.
Buoy 343 was dropped by the SOR Team from a USCG H-3 helicopter at 1630 on
December 31, 1976. It was placed in the center of a large pancake of oil (75
feet x 35 feet) in the hope that it would stay with the oil and generate
positions independent of weather both to guide aircraft reconnaissance flights
and to actually track the oil. There were some deployment problems as the
quick release would not activate and the hoist cable had to be cut at the
winch. Only visual observations were made at time of deployment because it
was dark and only the hover flood lights were available to illuminate the oil
pancake. Subsequently, the buoy, the launch sling, and the cable were ob-
served in the oil, as well as lumber and other flotsam. For the next 8 days,
reports on positions were received at Hyannis via special arrangement from
Nimbus-F control at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This tracking of the
oil was highly successful, in spite of intervening bad weather, which pro-
hibited flights. On January 2, 3, 12, and 13, the oil was relocated and
mapped using buoy positions as an aid. Table VII-10 in Appendix VII lists
the positions and velocities of the buoy as determined by Nimbus-F up to the
time of this report. Figure 2-5 shows the track of the buoy.

26

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A second buoy (ID //0373) was deployed by the USCGC Dallas as part of a
separate experiment on December 27, 1976. This experiment was conducted
jointly by NOAA (NDBO and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab-
oratories) and USCG as part of the New York Bight MESA program. This buoy
had a drogue attached to couple the buoy's motion to the water at 400 meters.
Since deployment, however, the drogue monitoring sensor has indicated that
the drogue is not attached or that the sensor has malfunctioned. Table VII-11
contains the positions and velocities of this buoy, and Figure 2-5 indicates
its track up to the time of this report.

In a joint project by NMFS (Woods Hole) and URI ' s Coastal Resources Cen-
ter seabed drifters were released in an attempt to measure bottom currents at
Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank. Seven releases of 150 drifters each were
made on January 6, 1977, to the west of the wreck site from a USCG helicopter.
Five drifters were also released at each station (except No. 27) occupied by
the second Delaware II cruise in January. An additional 150 drifters were
also released on URI Endeavor cruise EN-005 at the wreck site and at the lead-
ing edge of sediment contamination. To date, six seabed drifters have been
recovered according to C. Griscom of URI. The locations of recovery are indi-
cated in Table 2-2.

2.2.4 Oil Velocity

Oil velocity measurements were acquired both relative to fixed references
over short time periods and by navigational fixes on individual oil pancakes
over periods of hours during USCG mapping flights. On December 31 at 1340 a
pancake was marked by a datum marker buoy at 40116'N, 66°56'W, and at 1630 a
NOAA drifting buoy was inserted into the same pancake. The latter is assumed
to have been locked into the oil for the first few days and is being tracked
twice daily by Nimbus-F at noon and midnight (see Section 2.2.3). The first
five values contained in Table VII-10 probably represent oil velocities.

Differential velocities of oil and surface water were measured by the
SOR Team on helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft flights. Dye patches were
used to mark the surface water, and the separation and direction of oil and
water were then measured as a function of time. These data are primarily
contained in photographs and tape recordings. The following summarizes two
of the best sets of such measurements, based on both photographic data
reduction and visual observations made from a hovering helicopter, with a
USCG-developed viewfinder used for distance measurements.

The first set was obtained on December 19, 1976. During this flight, at
about 1100 EST, J. Gait and J. Mattson of the SOR Team released three dye
"pills" in a line downwind and ahead of the patch. The oil pancake was at
the far end of the horseshoe-shaped slick, 18 nautical miles long, emanating
from the Argo Merchant (Photograph 22, Appendix III) . Using time-lapse
photography, and knowing the altitude of the aircraft and the acceptance
angle of the camera lens, the differential oil/water velocity can be measured
directly. The table below summarizes the time-lapse photographs, which were
taken at an altitude of 500 feet with a 55-mm lens. Parentheses indicate
photographs taken at a lower altitude, for which distances were corrected.

29

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Sequence

Photo

No.

I.D.

0

7/12

1

7/13

2

7/14

3

7/15

4

7/16

Distance (feet) Time

Oil-left Pill Left-center pill Left-right pill (seconds)

42 89 183 0

40 93 171 10

(24) (91) (178) 97

24 101 - 100

3 85 165 214

Combining sequence Nos. 4 and 0 (Photographs 35 and 36, Appendix III), pro-
duces a differential velocity of 0.11 knot. Sequence Nos. 2 and 0 also yield
a differential velocity of 0.11 knot directly downwind. Sequence Nos. 1 and
3 are too close in time to 0 and 2 to give additional differential velocity
values, but are indicative of the precision of the method, i.e., about +10%.
Since the USCGC Vigilant recorded a wind speed of 10 knots from 250° at 1100
on December 19, the differential velocity obtained in this measurement
equates to 1.1% (+ 0.1%) of the wind speed. Simultaneously with the above
differential velocity experiment, a Richardson current probe was deployed in
the same area. Two photographs of this probe give a mean surface current
velocity of 1.6 knots (+5 to 10%). Visual observation of the current probe
yielded an estimated separation distance of 200 feet, while the two photo-
graphs yielded 186 feet and 206 feet respectively. The current direction was
estimated to be 205° using wind wave directions as reference.

The second set of measurements was obtained on December 20, when the
helicopter hovered over a series of five dye pills at altitudes of 500 to
1500 feet for 20 minutes. Using visual distance measurements with the USCG
viewfinder, J. Mattson and D. Kennedy of the SOR Team measured the speed with
which a pancake overtook a dye marker. In this instance, the speed was about
0.20 knots. The Vigilant reported winds of 17 knots headed 015° at the time
(1200 EST, December 20), which yields another differential oil/water velocity
of 1.1 to 1.2% of the wind speed. A Richardson current probe deployed at
that time yielded a surface current of 1.3 knots at 030°, about 15° to the
right of the wind.

Additional differential velocity measurements were made on December 19
at 1245 from a fixed-wing aircraft, and on December 22, 1976, from a USCG
helicopter. A summary of all differential velocity measurements is contained
in Table 2-3.

2.2.5 Water Mass Measurements

Expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) were taken during several of the
cruises conducted in response to the oil spill. The locations are shown in
Figure VII-7 in appendix VII. Eleven were obtained from the first Delaware
II cruise on December 22 and 23, while 43 were obtained from the second
Delaware II cruise on January 4. Eighty-three XBT stations (not plotted)
were taken during cruise 17 of the Ooeanus (December 3-9, 1976) and 15 XBTs
were acquired during Ooeanus cruise 20 (every station except 13) .

31

Table 2-3. Summary of differential oil/water velocity measurements

Date

Wii

id

Time

Speed

Dir.

(kt)

(°)

12/19/76

10

250

1100

12/19/76

16

243

1200

12/20/76

17

015

1200

12/22/76

30

275

Differential velocity
Speed Direction
% wind relative to wind

Measured
by

1.1

0.7*

1.1

0.8

30

"A*

0'

Gait
Mattson

Chan
Grose

Kennedy

Chan

* Large uncertainties because of large oblique angles
** 0° Relative to waves.

R. Wright, NMFS, analyzed the water temperatures acquired during the
second Delaware II cruise and found them very similar to the average values
shown by Colton and Stoddard (1972, charts 1940 to 1959) . Temperatures were
nearly isothermal, surface to bottom, except in the deeper stations along the
southern edge of Georges Bank. Bottom values were usually a few tenths of a
degree warmer than those at the surface. The coldest values (less than 5°C)
were in water close to shore, with temperatures as low as 2°C at the two
shallowest positions south of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Over Georges
Bank the range was 5 to 6°C, with water warmer than 6°C in the vicinity
of Great South Channel and the extreme southern edge of the Bank. Subsur-
face values warmer than 10°C, indicative of Slope water, were found at Sta-
tions 21 and 23 in deeper water south of the Bank. Otherwise the tempera-
tures were all typical of the shelf water of the region in January. An
analysis of the stations from the Oceanus cruises in December shows identical
results to those obtained from the Delaware II data. The surface isotherms
indicated on the oil slick maps in Appendix IV also support these conclusions.

Seven XBTs were also taken from the USCGC Dallas on December 30 in a
line 135 miles long oriented 70° 100 miles to the south, east of the Argo
Merchant. Figure 2-6 shows this temperature depth section, which indicates a
warm core eddy 100 miles south-southeast of the site of the wreck.

2.2.6

Meteorological Observations and Forecasts

Both routine and special surface meteorological data were collected at
the site of the Argo Merchant and in the surrounding area by USCG, and by FAA
at Nantucket Island. In addition to its normal marine forecasts, the Na-
tional Weather Services in the Boston area supplied special forecasts for the

wreck site.

32

a.

LU

Q

39*00'
70*00'

39° 06'
69*36'

39° 2 4

39° 29

39*37

39*43

39*46

68° 51'

68*23'

68* 03'

67* 37'

67*13

Figure 2-6. XBT section from USCGC Dallas on December 30, 1976

33

Hourly surface meteorological data were collected at the site of the
wreck by the USCGC's Vigilant and Bittersweet from December 15 through Decem-
ber 31, 1976. Wind speeds and directions were extracted from these data and
are contained in Table VII-12 in Appendix VII. Hourly surface data were also
collected by the FAA tower at Nantucket Island airport during their operating
hours (0600 to 2300) and the resulting wind speeds and directions are summar-
ized in Table VII-13 for this same time period. Similar wind speed and
direction data acquired from the Nantucket Light Ship operated by USCG are
given in Table VII-14. Data from the Nantucket Island airport and Light Ship
for other time periods are available from the National Climatic Center (NCC) ,
Asheville, North Carolina, as a standard archive product.

F. Godshall of NOAA's Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis did
a comparative study of the winds observed at the site of the Avgo Merchant
and those routinely measured at the Nantucket Light Ship. He used a least
square vector difference technique (Godshall, et al., 1976), by which an
additive direction correction and a wind speed factor was developed based on
vector differences that can be used for extrapolation. His findings indicate
that over the 15 days of data (Tables VII-12 and VII-14, appendix VII) winds
at the Avgo Merchant site can best be estimated by subtracting 13° from the
directions reported by the Light Ship and multiplying the reported speeds by
a factor of 1.17.

Meteorological data were acquired on all cruises in the area and, where
available, are given in the cruise reports contained in Appendix V.

Using the radar altimeter aboard the Geodynamics Experimental Ocean
Satellite, GE0S-3, C. Parsons of Wallops Flight Center, NASA, measured signif-
icant wave height in meters in the vicinity of the Avgo Mevchant oil spill
from December 24 to 28. The normal scheduling of the satellite was inter-
rupted to accommodate the data collection along 13 ground tracks off the east
coast of the United States. These data were processed at the NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center to produce significant wave height measurements spaced
3.28 seconds apart in time, an increment designated as the GE0S-3 data frame.

Figure 2-7 shows the positioning of the tracks closest to the oil spill
for each of the 5 days. The frame number (in italics) and significant wave
height are noted at regular intervals along each track. The latter given
quantity is the result of averaging over seven frames, a process that is
needed to correct for the inherent noisiness of the GE0S-3 measurement.
Because of the rapidity with which the storm systems moved through the area
during the December 24-28 period and the separation between consecutive GEOS-
3 ground tracks, it was not possible to generate contour maps of significant
wave height.

The ground track for orbit 8832 crossed the oil spill on December 24
during frames 114 and 115. The variation of significant wave height near the
spill is shown in Figure VII-8 (appendix VII) . The dashed line is the varia-
tion of the three-frame average. This was used to eliminate some of the
noisiness of the measurement without losing all of its spatial resolution.
It can be seen that sea state in the vicinity of the spill was of the order
2.5 to 3 meters on December 24. Compared with 2 to 3 feet as observed by the

34

IM

8855
12/25

30N+
8869 7o w 8£S3

12/26 12/27

8839 8832

12/28 12/24

Figure 2-7. GE0S-3 ground tracks for December 24-28, 1976.

35

Vigilant, this results in a factor of 3 over estimation. Using this as a
calibration factor, the wave estimates made from GEOS may possibly be of use
as inputs for future modeling efforts.

As part of the National Oil Pollution Contingency Plan Response, the
National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA, supplied the Federal On-Scene Coordin-
ator with special marine forecasts for the site of the wreck of the Argo Mer-
chant since the day of the grounding. Routine scheduling of the special
forecasts began late on December 15. The schedule has varied from as many as
six per day to as few as two per day, dependent upon need. Since the initial
request for forecast assistance, 252 forecasts have been provided up to
February 1, including 147 special forecasts and 103 special wind forecasts.

Some operational problems were encountered by NWS, the major problem
being lack of feedback of weather conditions at the site. This was resolved
recently with the assistance of the Federal On-Scene Coordinator.

Table 2-4 was prepared by NWS to give some insight into the accuracy of
the wind forecasts issued by NWS for the oil spill site. On-site winds were
not relayed to NWS in Boston on a real-time basis until mid-January. Thus,
operational forecasts were issued with the Nantucket Shoals Light Vessel
(L/V) as closest observational site, located 32 miles from the spill site on
Fishing Rip. Table 2-4A shows the wind verification based on Nantucket L/V
data. Table 2-4B shows the wind verification for the Fishing Rip site. The
tables are basically self-explanatory (MAE = mean average error). However,
it should be pointed out that the selection of categories was subjective and
based upon NWS operational experience, by which a forecast of wind direction
that verifies within 30° is considered excellent. Forty percent of the fore-
casts (Table 2-4B) fell within this range; 72% of the forecasts fell within
the range of 60°, considered a good-to-excellent forecast; and only 10% were
in the 90° category, which is considered poor and of no ooperational use.

A wind speed in error by less than 5 knots is considered excellent (36%
were in this category), less than 10 knots good to excellent (72% in this
category) , and greater than 15 knots unsatisfactory (12%) . Even the last
category can be of limited use depending on the strength of the wind.

While the table provides a statistical appraisal of the forecasts, it
does not necessarily directly reflect their utility. That utility should be
judged where possible on the overall effectiveness in assisting the OCS in
making proper operational judgments.

One of the most serious problems arising from the spill was, and is, the
potential contamination of the beaches and shorelines along the New England
coast and possibly even the mid-Atlantic coast. Therefore, it was particu-
larly important to accurately forecast offshore winds (260-360°) and onshore
winds (90-160°). These were considered the two most important categories.

In evaluating the utility of the forecasts of the other wind directions,
forecasts were definitely useful 84% of the time up to 12 hours and 81% of
the time up to 30 hours.

36

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37

2.2.7 Burning of Oil

The nation is faced with the problem of deciding whether to use burning
agents in the event of a catastrophe such as the Argo Merchant. The useful-
ness of having an operational burning system can be envisioned in this situa-
tion. For example, had the Argo Merchant been given permission to dump some
oil to extricate itself, the oil may have been rendered harmless if an opera-
tional burning system had been available. In lieu of this, two attempts were
made to burn off the oil spilled from the tanker. The second of these con-
sisted of a planned experiment to test the feasibility of using burning
agents and to determine the extent to which such agents would consume oil in
actual at-sea conditions. The material used was composed of extremely fine
particles of fumed silica, surface treated with a silane coating to render it
hydrophobic. Originally, the material was marketed under the trade name CAB-
O-SIL ST-2-0. A detailed description of the burning theory is given by Tully
(1969) . This same material, identical in all respects, is now marketed under
the trade name Tullanox 500, under a licensing agreement with the Cabot
Corporation.

Numerous burning experiments and demonstrations were undertaken before
1971. Actual oil spills where burning was attempted include the Torrey
Canyon spill in 1967; the Arrow in 1970 (Canada Ministry of Transport 1970a);
and the Othello in 1970 (Fribeiger et al., 1971, 1970a). With regard to the
Arrow spill in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, the following is an excerpt from
the report by the Canada Ministry of Transport (1970a) :

"From a review of the state-of-the-art and from the limited experiments
on burning in Chedabucto Bay, it appears feasible to burn fresh Bunker C
slicks if certain conditions are met..., but for it to be a practical opera-
tion, major advances must be made in the techniques of containment, ignition
and maintenance of combustion (wicking agents)."

In 1970, the First Naval District conducted sea trials in which two
burning agents were used: SEABED, a Pittsburgh Corning product, and CAB-0-
SIL. Both products burned an estimated 10,000 of the 15,000 gallons Bunker C
oil spilled. The amount each agent burned is not known, but CAB-0-SIL burned
for about 16 minutes and SEABED for 4 minutes in swells of 8 to 10 feet and
in seawater temperatures of 44°F. The COMDT First Naval District's report on
this controlled oil spill (1970) contains the following findings.

(a) Bunker C oil spilled in its natural state on cold water will not
support combustion without a wicking agent.

(b) The seeding methods demonstrated and the ignition methods attempted
are both inadequate for normal at-sea conditions, wind wave and action being
the determining factors.

(c) Subject to satisfactory ignition methods, both products tested will
provide a wicking action and support combustion of cold Bunker C oil when
adequate coverage is obtained.

38

As noted in most of the reference literature, of prime importance for
successful burning is the dispersal of the powder in order to obtain a con-
tinuous coating over the oil slick. In the first attempt, on December 27, to
burn the oil spilled from the Argo Merchant, USCG dropped isolated boxes of
Tullanox 500 charged with JP-4 fuel from a helicopter and ignited them with
a timed thermite grenade. The isolated boxes burned, but, because of the
lack of dispersal of the wicking agent, flame spread was not substained
(Photographs 42 and 43, Appendix III).

On December 29, the USCG Research and Development Center was requested
to conduct a burning experiment on the Argo Merchant oil spill from the USCG
Spar. After consultation with the On-Scene Coordinator the same day, a
method of conducting the experiment was agreed upon.

Two days later, on December 31, the Spar arrived on the scene at day-
break, but was unable to sight a suitable oil slick without the aid of air-
craft. The HU-16E (7524) was dispatched, reached the scene at approximately
1400, directed the Spar to a pancake by 1500, and the experiment began at
1500. The 90- by 120-foot slick was elliptical in shape, of heavy tarry con-
sistency, and 6 to 10 feet thick (Photograph 44, Appendix III). It contained
much debris, such as two-by-fours and other building materials. As the ves-
sel maneuvered alongside, the patch broke into several smaller ones.

The Tullanox 500 dry powder was left in the original 11-pound plastic
supply bags and thrown near the center of a small 30- by 60-food oil slick.
Some bags burst open on impact. Others were torn open with birdshot from a
12-gage shotgun. Despite Tullanox 500' s advertised affinity for oil, its
bulk density of 3 pounds per cubic foot, comparable to cigarette ash, allowed
the wind to blow approximately 95% of it (66 pounds) off the slick. Another
66 pounds were therefore charged with JP-4 and dispersed along the edge of
the slick. It was obvious at this stage of the experiment that a continuous
coating over the oil slick could not be obtained although sufficient wicking
was dispersed to theoretically put a 12-inch coating over the 30- by 60-foot
oil slick had 100% of it remained on the surface. In all, 55 gallons of JP-4
were used, in which three cotton sheets were soaked and distributed on the
slick as primers. One sheet was ignited with 30-minute flares and burned for
4 minutes. The heat source was insufficient to ignite the primer, which was
being mixed with water by the turbulence fromj the Spar. Attempts were made
to ignite a wider area with flares (Photograph 49, Appendix III), but they
were unsuccessful and the experiment was called off.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the second attempt to burn
off the Argo Merchant oil:

(a) Dispersal of the wicking agent at sea to obtain a nearly uniform
and continuous coating over an oil slick is not feasible with Tullanox 500 in
its present form.

(b) A surface vessel operating close to the oil slick will cause it to
break up.

39

(c) If a more uniform distribution of wicking agent and primer had been
achieved, and the weathered oil had been susceptible to being burned, there
is reason to believe the ignition technique used would have been adequate.

2.2.8 "Tar Ball" Reports

On March 10, large tar balls began coming ashore on the southwest coast
of Nantucket Island. The balls were reportedly as much as a foot in diam-
eter; one, found on the eastern shore of Nantucket, weighed 70 pounds. The
material was deposited in a widely scattered pattern around centers about 100
feet apart. The tar was relatively fresh and contained no entrained sand or
other materials, suggesting that it had been floating and weathering after a
recent spill.

Samples of the tar were given to Dr. John Farrington at WHOI for chem-
ical analysis. This work may be able to document the tar as being derived
from crude or refined petroleum; but it will not be able to establish con-
clusively whether the tar originated with the Argo Merchant spill or with
another No. 6 fuel oil spill.

2.3 Oil Trajectory Modeling Efforts

Several independent modeling efforts were made to explore the implica-
tions of the Argo Merchant oil spill, some of which were provided the Federal
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) for operational forecasting of the oil distribu-
tion. Cmdr. C. Morgan, an oceanographer , who was assigned to the OSC Staff
from the USCG Oceanographic Unit, played a principal role in incorporating
the efforts made available on scene into operation decision making. Other
efforts whose results were not forwarded to the OCS are included for compar-
ison and completeness. The six modeling efforts presented include "forecast"
trajectories based on predicted or actual winds and currents, as well as
"risk" trajectories which used climatological or historical winds and cur-
rents. Validation efforts by the contributor included comparison of forecast
trajectories with observed oil location as well as confirmation of climatol-
ogical wind pattern with observed winds.

All the models incorporated vector addition of the forces that moved the
oil, which included winds, tides, and semipermanent currents. In general,
differences in the model outputs are attributable to: (1) different sources
of winds, whether measured, forecasted, or climatological; (2) different
sources of currents, and (3) differences in how wind drift, both surface
water and oil/water differential, was included. Table 2-5 summarizes the
input data and the major techniques used for the six models or an aid for
comparison.

All the models predicted that the oil on the surface would be moved off-
shore under the influence of the prevailing westerly winds. Since the actual
winds were more towards the east than the climatologically predicted south-
east, the forecast models appear more accurate in predicting the movement of
the surface oil than the risk models. Additionally, those models which used
tidal or net tidal currents rather than mean or climatological currents are

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also more realistic, presumably because the mean currents generally include a
surface drift resultant from the mean winds which was not separately removed
before the wind-induced currents were added. The sole contribution for
subsurface drift (Section 2.3.6) presents results which have not been veri-
fied to date.

The following six sections contain the contributed modeling efforts. It
should be noted that the majority of the figures contributed are contained
and referenced in Appendix VII.

2.3.1 U.S. Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit

The primary technique used by the USCG Oceanographic Unit in forecasting
oil drift from the Avgo Merchant was to sum the vector effects of wind cur-
rents, tidal currents, sea currents (mean or residual currents), and oil
leeway. Based on 24-hour forecast winds for the spill site, provided by the
National Weather Service in Boston, the forecast was made at about local noon
each day for a verification time of 1300 the following day. The summation
was done by a program from the following inputs:

o Initial oil positions at 1300 the previous day.

o Observed winds up to the present.

o Forecast winds up to 1300 the following day.

o Tidal currents.

o Wind currents.

Program output was oil positions at 12-hour intervals from 1300 the previous
day to 1300 the following day. A new blob of oil at the wreck site was gen-
erated every 12 hours. The positions obtained were reported by telephone
each day about noon to Cmdr. Morgan, who would prepare forecast limits of all
oil from these positions. Often a correction would be applied to the posi-
tions based on the difference between the forecast and the oil observed the
preceding day. This correction represented the sea current, which was ini-
tially part of the computer program, but was later dropped.

The wind current used was a time-dependent Ekman model based on equation
(41) in a paper by Jelesnianski (1970) . The tidal current was derived from
tidal vectors near the wreck site as given by Haight (1942). The oil leeway
was taken as 1.2% of wind speed, directly downwind, based on measurements
taken on the scene by the NOAA-USCG SOR Team.

For the first few days of the Argo Merchant oil spill, and after January
8, manual techniques were used for forecasting, which is continuing at the
present time. Plans are underway to perform a more thorough analysis in the
near future of the computer forecast technique based on observed winds.

With few exceptions, all oil sightings fell within the forecast oil
limits. Examples of these forecasts are shown as box outlines in Figures VII-

42

22 to VII-29 (appendix VII) . A major positive factor affecting performance
in forecasting limits was the daily oil surveillance flights from December 17
to December 27. Data from these flights permitted accurate correction of
initial oil position each day.

2.3.2 U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center

The USCG R&D Center began to forecast the movement of the oil on Decem-
ber 15, 1976, at the request of the Marine Safety Office (MSO) in Boston.
The forces that transport the oil were examined by R&D Center personnel. It
was found that the magnitude of the wind vector determined from predicted
values of wind speed would move the oil at a rate of 0.5 to 1.5 knots in a
downwind direction; that the magnitude of the tidal currents would move the
oil at 0.5 to 1.3 knots; and that the magnitude of the permanent currents in
the area are approximately 0.1 to 0.2 knots. After comparing the magnitude
of the forces that move the oil it was decided that for the short-term pre-
dictions (24 hours) the tides and winds would control the movement of the
oil. For long-term predictions, the winds alone would dominate. The method
used for predicting the movement of the oil was a simple vector addition of
the tidal vector and 3.5 percent of the wind speed on an hourly basis. The
lateral movement of the oil was determined to be the magnitude of the tidal
movement. This combined with the hourly vectoral movement of the oil showed
the "worst case" estimate of the areal extent of the oil.

On December 16, at 0930, MSO, Boston, requested the R&D Center to fore-
cast the movement of oil should the tanker rupture. At 1135, MSO was in-
formed that the oil would move southeast for the next 24 to 48 hours, and
would continue to move southeast-to-east through the weekend of December 18
and 19. This forecast was based on the tides and the predicted winds sup-
plied to the R&D Center by the National Weather Service (NWS). MSO, Boston,
was also informed that the oil would continue to move offshore as long as the
winds were offshore.

Figures VII-9 through VII-12 in Appendix VII depict the long-term pre-
dicted movement of the oil using predicted winds and net tidal currents.
These figures were the basis for the information that was transmitted to MSO,
Boston. The long-term movement is based on the predicted winds as supplied
by NWS. Figure VII-9 shows the predicted limit of the slick as of 1900,
December 17. This figure includes the effects of the predicted winds used
for the forecast as well as the total movement of the oil caused by previ-
ously predicted winds. From 1600, December 16, the west-northwest winds and
tides moved the oil 8 miles to the east-northeast. From 0700 to 1300, Decem-
ber 16, the northeast winds moved the oil toward the southwest, a distance of
6 miles. The spill was treated as a continuous leak, and the oil movement
was therefore predicted continuously from the site of the Argo Merchant.
This is the reason for two vectors being labeled 0700-1300, December 16. One
of these shows the transport of the oil that moved northeast prior to these
wind conditions. The other vector shows the movement of oil from the site of
the Argo Merchant during the period 0700-1300, December 16. This process was
used for the entire period. Thus, the boundaries of the oil spill limits as
shown in Figures VII-9 through VII-12 are, in essence, an estimate of the
limit of the oil slick.

43

Figure 2-8 is a comparison of the limit of the slick on December 21 as
observed on overflights and the "worst case" estimate of the limit predicted
from the winds as of 2400, December 20 (figure VII-11) In figure VII-13, the
observed limit of the slick on December 23 is compared with an estimate of
the limit as of 0700, December 23 (figure VII-12) . Again, the observed limit
of the slick was obtained from overflights of the area. In these two fig-
ures, the predicted direction of movement of the oil is in agreement with the
observed movement, and the predicted areal coverage is about twice the ob-
served. The entire prediction was accomplished in approximately 3 hours
after the time of request from MSO, Boston. It indicates that vectoral
addition of the forces that move the oil is an excellent method for a quick
answer to where the oil will go and when it will get there. Had the winds
been onshore instead of of offshore, this method would have enabled cleanup
equipment to be placed at strategic areas before the oil came ashore. In
addition, it seems likely that had actual on-scene winds been used in the
forecast rather than long-term predictions from NWS, the predicted movement
and dispersion would have been even more precise.

Figure VII-14 is a progressive hourly wind vector diagram derived from
3.5% of the on-scene wind speed data for the period 1600, December 15, to
07 00, December 23, collected by the USCGC Vigilant. These wind data to-
gether with tidal data can be used to compare actual short-term movement of
the oil with the predictive technique of adding winds and tides vectorially.
In addition, the validity of using 3.5% of the wind speed data in a downwind
direction can be examined.

For short-term drift, Figure 2-9 gives a comparison of observed slick
and predicted movement caused by tides and winds. The vector shows the pre-
dicted movement of the oil for the period 2400, December 15, 1976, to 0900,
December 17, 1976. The outline of the slick was taken from slick map IV-1 in
Appendix IV, which shows its location near noon on December 17. There is
excellent agreement between the actual direction of the oil movement and the
predicted movement as determined from tides and wind. In fact, it appears
that 3.5% of the wind speed data adequately describes this transport vector.
The greatest error occurs in predicting the tidal component for each hour of
movement.

From December 15 to December 19, the total extent of the spill was not
clearly defined by overflights. However, several observations of the move-
ment of the oil during and after this period verify the techniques used by
the R&D Center. These observations are shown in Table 2-6. The observed
movement of the oil spill is documented in the maps contained in Appendix IV.
Table 2-6 indicates that the oil was moving westward, bearing 240°T, on
December 16. On December 18, pancakes were found 27 miles east of the ship
(090°T). The maximum eastward movement of the oil caused by the wind (Figure
VII-14) was 31 miles, bearing 130°T. Assuming this is the maximum eastward
extent of the oil, the computed wind factor for moving it would be 3.05%.
Beginning with December 20, the daily wind factor for the observed movement
and the direction of movement of the oil are given in Table 2-6. A summary
of these values compared with predicted values is shown in Table 2-7.

44

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46

Table 2-6. Observations of oil movement

Date
(1976)

Actual observations

Predicted movement of oil
based on 3.5% of wind data
in downward direction

12/16 Oil 2 miles north to south and 4
miles east to west; oil moving
west; streak of oil, bearing about
240°T.

Winds during the morning of
December 16 would move oil
on a bearing of 245°T.

12/18 Pancakes 27 miles east of ship
(090°T). Computed wind drift
3.05%.

Maximum movement east 31
miles, bearing 130°T.

12/20 Main plume 16 miles long, bearing
040°T. Computed wind factor
4.00%.

Winds from 0900, December 19,
to 0900, December 20, would
move oil 14 miles, direction
048°T.

12/21 Maximum eastward movement of

oil 53 miles, direction 090°T.
Computed wind factor 3.09%.

12/22 Maximum eastward movement of oil
95 miles, direction 108°T. Com-
puted wind factor 4.05%

12/23 Maximum eastward movement of oil
86 miles, direction 100°T. Com-
puted wind factor 3.10%.

Maximum eastward movement 60
miles, direction 095°T.

Maximum eastward movement 82
miles, direction 106°T.

Maximum eastward movement 97
miles direction 110°T.

Table 2-7. Observed vs. predicted movement

Date

0bser\

red

Pre

dieted

Wind Factor

Direction

Wind Factor

Direction

12/20

4.00%

040°T

3.5%

048°T

12/21

3.09%

090°T

3.5%

095°T

12/22

4.05%

108°T

3.5%

106°T

12/23

3.10%

100°T

3.5%

110°T

47

One-way analyses of variance (anova) without replication were performed
to determine whether statistically significant differences were detectable
between observed and predicted wind factor and direction. The results are
summarized in Tables 2-8 to 2-11.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the above analysis:

o For short-term predictions (24 hours) a vectorial addition
of wind and tides adequately forecasted movement.

o For long-term predictions the winds dominated the movement of
the oil.

o 3.5% of the wind speed is an adequate value for the wind
drift factor.

o Oil spills tend to move downwind.

2.3.2 Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis

Another modeling study was carried out by NOAA personnel at the Center
for Experiment Design and Data Analysis (CEDDA) at the request of the OSC on
December 28. In this study, a wind drift (3% at 15° to the right) , based on
15 years of historical wind records from the Nantucket Light Ship were con-
sidered both alone and in combination with an assumed local current estimated
from measurements taken at WHOI's location site D (0.25 knots at 270°).
Several cases were run using both winter (January-February-March) and spring
(April-May-June) wind records. These modeling results were forwarded to
Cmdr. Morgan for his use in upgrading the forecasting effort.

At CEDDA, the centroid of hypothetical spills were tracked to model the
probability of impact from an offshore oil spill. Such processes as oil
spreading and weathering were not included. Tidal currents were neglected,
and surface slick movement was considered to be a linear combination of a
seasonal baroclinic current (sea current) and a time-dependent wind-driven
current. The spatial field of seasonal baroclinic currents was input to the
computer program, and a wind-driven current vector was calculated based on a
3% wind factor adjusted to include a 15° Coriolis deflection angle between
wind drift and wind vectors. The wind field was taken directly from coastal
meteorological station data at Nantucket Light Ship from 1955 to 1970, ob-
tained from the National Climatic Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

A hypothetical path of oil movement was generated by computing trajec-
tories from each third hourly wind observation. After each 3-hourly step,
the geographical position of the centroid of the hypothetical slick was
compared with the beach location. When this position and the beach location
coincided, an impact event was assumed and the procedures terminated. Upon
impact, the wind record used for the wind-drift current calculation was
advanced 72 hours and modeling of a new spill event was begun. If no beach
impact was found within a modeling time of 1200 hours, the oil mass was
assumed degraded and the procedure again terminated. Approximately 40

48

Table 2-8. Data array for wind factor

Date

Observed

Predicted

12/20

4.00

3.5

12/21

3.09

3.5

12/22

4.05

3.5

12/23

3.10
x 3.56

3.5
x 3.5 x 3.53

Table 2-9. Anova for wind factor

Source

Amount

Degrees

Estimated

Observed

of

of

of

variance

F ratio

variation

variation

freedom

Among

0.0072

1

0.0072

Within

0.8662

6

0.1444

0.0499

Total

0.8734

7

Conclusion: For the 5% level of alpha there is no significant differ-
ence between the observed and the predicted wind factor.

49

Table 2-10. Data array for predicted movement ("true)

Date

Observed

Predicted

12/20

040

048

12/21

090

095

12/22

108

106

12/23

100

110

=

X

84.50

X

89.75

x 87.13

Table 2-11. Anova for wind direction

Source
of
variation

Amount
of
variation

Degrees

of
freedom

Estimated
variance

Observed
F ratio

Among

Within

Total

55.13
5247.75
5302.89

55.13
874.63

0.06

Conclusion: For the 5% level of alpha there is no significant differ-
ence between the observed and the predicted wind directions.

50

minutes of computer processing unit time was required to run the oil advec-
tion model with 10 years of historical wind data.

The results of simulated spills at the site are presented as probability
diagrams. Figure 2-10 shows the results for no currents and winter winds,
while Figure VII-15 (appendix VII) is the same except for spring winds.
Figures VII-16 and VII-17 show winter and spring winds, respectively, com-
bined with a sea current of 0.25 knots in a westerly direction. About 450
spills were simulated for the spill site. These diagrams indicate the im-
pact, in percent, that a 10-mile by 10-mile offshore area would receive by
the calculated oil trajectories on a seasonal basis. As indicated by these
diagrams, oil movements from the spill site shows a strong offshore tendency.

2.3.4 U. S. Geological Survey, Systems Analysis Group

A fourth numerical modeling study was done by T. Wyant , D. A. Smith, and
J. Slack of the USGS Systems Analysis Group in Reston, Virginia. The results
of this study were not part of the on-scene effort, but they do provide an
opportunity to verify, apply, and extend an oilspill trajectory model pre-
viously developed as part of an oil spill risk analysis for the proposed
North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf lease area. The latter analysis was
done to determine environmental hazards of developing offshore oil in the
region and has been described in detail by Smith et al . (1976). In the risk
analysis, model runs were used to estimate probabilities that spills occur-
ring at anticipated production sites would have an impact on certain biologi-
cal and recreational resources in the North Atlantic coastal region. When
the Argo Merchant broke up in this area, it became possible to compare model
output with observed movements of the spill. Also, since model input for the
area was fully prepared before the incident, it was possible to make short-
and long-term forecasts of slick behavior from the moment the tanker went
aground.

The USGS oil spill trajectory model was constructed and used to simulate
oil slick movement on a digital map of the North Atlantic between 38°N and
45°N latitude and 65°W longitude and the North American coast. The funda-
mental transport equation in the model expresses oil slick movement as the
vector sum of residual surface current velocity, tidally averaged, and 3.5%
of wind velocity. Slick movement was simulated as a series of straight-line
displacements, each representing the joint influence of wind and current over
a 3-hour period. Monthly surface current velocity fields were provided by
the Bureau of Land Management and were based in part on drift bottle studies
conducted by Bumpus (1973) .

Wind velocities were provided for the simulations in one of two ways,
depending on the mode of operation of the model. First, for purposes of
verification, wind observations were input directly and updated every 3
hours. Wind reports were received for two locations: Nantucket Light Ship,
and the USCGC Vigilant, which was on the scene of the grounding. Second, for
purposes of forecasting, prevailing wind velocity was used for the first 3-
hour step, and all subsequent 3-hour ly winds were randomly generated from a

51

43°

CLIMATOLOGICAL OIL SPILL MODEL
(Percent Impact for 10 mile Square Areas)

CEDDA, EDS, NOAA

1. Wind— driven current only

2. Wind record for winter (1955-1970)
months Nantucket Island

42c

41'

40c

43c

42c

41'

40° N

71

70c

69

68

67°W

Figure 2-10. Impact probability for winter (no current)

52

wind transition probability matrix. Seasonally specific first-order transi-
tion matrices were derived from historic data covering 5 years of observa-
tions at the Georges Bank and Nantucket Shoals weather towers.

Surface current velocity fields used in the model were the same for both
verification and forecasting modes, but changed from December to January.
Two wind drift angles, 0° and 20°, were used in the trajectory simulations,
and sensitivity of the results to this parameter is discussed below.

Before the grounding of the Argo Merchant, model runs conducted as part
of the oil spill risk analysis for the Georges Bank area had indicated that
by far the most likely trajectory for oil spilled in that area would be to
the southeast (Figure 2-11), a result which was later borne out in movements
of Argo Merchant slick. However, the opportunity for more detailed and
precise testing of the model arose with the availability of voluminous data
on slick location and winds provided by NOAA and USCG personnel on the scene
and by National Weather Service offices in New Jersey and Boston.

Time series of observed winds were input to the model in order to make
deterministic simulations of slick trajectory. A series of points were
released every 3 hours from the site of the Argo Merchant grounding and
transported as described above by currents and observed 3-hourly winds,
beginning with the reported wind at 1600, December 17. A display of all such
points after n time steps should resemble the location and general shape of
the slick at a time 3n hours from 1600, December 17. Figures 2-12 and
Figures VI-18 to VII-21 show displays for two dates in December, based on
observed winds from two locations. Maps of the actual slick were provided
by NOAA and USCG personnel involved in overflights of the area. The model
predictions do not take into account differential rate of oil released from
the ship or oil dispersion over time. In Figures VII-17 to VII-19 the wind
input is not modified by any assumed drift angle, and it is clear in Figure
VII-19 that, in the case of wind data from the USCGC Vigilant, use of a drift
angle to the right would have narrowed the gap between observed and predicted
patterns.

One might be inclined to deduce from the above that wind data from the
Vigilant were most representative of conditions along the oil slick and that
choice of a positive drift angle was appropriate. However, although the
Vigilant was at the scene of the Argo Merchant during this time, the Nantuc-
ket Light Ship was anchored near 40°30'N latitude, 69°29'W longitude, actu-
ally closer to the southeastern extremity of the slick. Thus, data from
neither station were clearly preferable on the basis of location.

Figures VII-20 and VII-21 show comparisons of predicted and observed
slick locations based on the assumption of a 20° drift angle to the right.
In summary, no clear conclusions can be drawn concerning the best choice of
wind station and drift angle in the absence of more information.

In the days following the grounding of the Argo Merchant, model runs
were regularly made to estimate the probability that oil would ultimately
affect the coast. In each run, large numbers of simulated trajectories were

53

WINTER

Figure 2-11. Example of oil spill trajectory results for the
Georges Bank proposed lease area under winter
conditions. (From Smith et al. , 1976.)

54

Model prediction

Argo Merchant

-40°N

Observed slick

70° W
I

68° W

Figure 2-12. Predicted and observed location and shape of oil slick,
December 22. Model prediction shows oil released from
the Argo Merchant from 1000, December 17, through 1000,
December 22. Wind input is from Nantucket Light Ship.

55

launched from the ship site, with initial wind velocities based either on
National Weather Service reports or on random selection from historic wind
data. Wind velocities for subsequent steps were generated from a wind trans-
ition probability matrix, as described earlier. Table 2-12 shows probability
estimates for 2 different days in the period following the grounding. The
sensitivity of probability estimates to initial wind conditions is evident.

Significant quantities of oil may still be contained in the hull of the
Argo Merchant, and how the probability of this oil coming ashore will change
in the months to come remains a question. Model runs were therefore con-
ducted using different starting dates and initial wind velocities randomly
selected from historic seasonal wind data. Table 2-13 demonstrates the
sensitivity of probability estimates to seasonal conditions.

In January, the spill left the area for which model input had been pre-
pared for the risk analysis. On the basis of data in the U.S. Navy Marine
Climatic Atlas for the North Atlantic (Meserve, 1974), model inputs were
prepared to continue forecasting oil trajectories in the Gulf Stream, al-
though various modifications to the model were required.

The length of time steps used in the model was increased to 1 day. Winds
at each step were randomly drawn from local historic frequency tables, rather
than from transition matrices. Frequency charts of winds by month and loca-
tion were obtained from the climatic atlas, as were prevailing currents at
each step by season and location. Either a null current or the prevailing
current was chosen at random at each step according to the reported "persist-
ence" of the prevailing current.

Trajectories are located in a latitude- longitude coordinate system with
displacements adjusted for earth sphericity. Model output takes the form of
displays of simulated trajectories on maps of the North Atlantic.

Updated starting sites for model runs are determined by reported loca-
tions of a satellite-monitored NOAA drifting buoy deployed in the slick on
December 31. As yet, no account has been taken of long-term weathering
effects on the oil or the differential transport of the oil and the buoy.

Figure 2-13 shows the locations at 30-day intervals of 100 simulated
trajectories launched from the reported position of the drift buoy on January
30. In this area of the Atlantic, the Gulf Stream divides into northern,
eastern, and southern flows. This accounts for the wide spread in trajec-
tories. In the future, when trajectories are launched from one division of
the Gulf Stream, model runs should show much tighter clustering. Figure 2-13,
indicates the northern flow to be the most likely of the three.

2.3.5 University of Rhode Island, Department of Ocean Engineering

Surface Currents

C. Noll, P. Cornillon, and M. Spaulding of the Ocean Engineering Depart-
ment at the University of Rhode Island developed a simple computer model to
predict the surface drift of spilled oil shortly after the Argo Merchant went

56

Table 2-12

Simulated trajectories from the Argo Merchant
on different initial wind patterns (300 trajec-
tories launched for each wind pattern)

Initial wind pattern

Probability
ashore

Mean days
to land

Initial wind selected
randomly from his-
toric winter record

0.10

Initial wind northeast
10 knots (reported by
USCG, December 16)

0.24

Initial wind northwest
at 20 knots (reported
from Nantucket Light
Ship, December 17)

0.07

Table 2-13. Simulated trajectories from the Argo Merchant
based on different starting dates (300 trajec-
tories launched for each month)

Date

Probability ashore
in U.S.

Probability ashore

Total

in Canada

probability

(Nova Scotia)

ashore

0.00

0.10

0.00

0.08

0.02

0.16

0.09

0.41

0.12

0.52

0.34

0.67

0.58

0.92

0.57

0.91

0.31

0.59

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

0.10
0.08

0.14
0.33
0.40
0.33
0.34
0.34
0.28

57

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58

aground. This effort was supported by ERDA contract DY-76-S-02-4047 . The
model was written to allow for either a Monte Carlo prediction of the likely
spill location as a function of time, sampling randomly from the 10-year
average monthly wind rose for that area, or a deterministic hindcast of the
spill location using actual wind measurement for the period of interest.
Monte Carlo predictions of the location of the leading edge of the spill 5,
10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days following the breakup of the Argo Merchant were
generated for URI planning purposes shortly after the ship broke up. These
predictions, as well as a 30-day deterministic hindcast, are presented here.
In all figures, the forecast limits of oil by the USCG Oceanographic Unit
(Section 2.3.1) are included for comparison.

Model Runs

Two cases of the deterministic model were run. The first (Figure VII-
22, Appendix VII) included wind-driven currents only. It was assumed that
the wind induced a surface drift in the direction of the wind at 3.5% of the
wind velocity. This drift is accounted for by about 1.5% for the wind-
induced water motion and about 2.0% for the relative oil-to-water motion
(Smith, 1974). No Coriolis forces were included. The second case (Figure
VII-23) included wind-driven currents and tidal currents which were added
vectorially to yield the spill's overall movement. In both cases, starting
date was December 18, and 30-day trajectories were calculated.

The model was run using 3-hour time steps, i.e., the spill was moved at
the determined rate and in the determined direction for a period of time
corresponding to 3 hours before the wind was changed. The necessary wind
data were obtained from the Grant Point Coast Guard Station on Nantucket
Island. The tidal currents were taken from the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration navigation chart 13006 (4/76).

As in the deterministic case, the Monte Carlo runs were made both for
wind-driven currents and for wind-driven currents added vectorially to the
local tidal currents. The wind speed and direction for the Monte Carlo runs
were randomly sampled so that the probability of obtaining a given wind
magnitude and direction equals the probability that such conditions are
observed in the appropriate month during the past 10 years. These 10-year
averaged data (U.S. Naval Weather Service Command, 1970) list the probability
by month of obtaining the wind velocity in each of six ranges for each of
eight wind directions (N, NE, E, etc.). Once a direction and magnitude had
been chosen for the wind, the wind-induced drift of the oil was calculated
and added to the tidal current. The slick was then moved at this drift rate
for 2 hours, at which time the procedure was repeated. Figures VII-24 and
VII-25 depict five representative spill trajectories for the wind-only and
the wind-plus-tidal-current case, respectively. Figures VII-26 to VII-28
and Figure 2-14 represent the 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-day Monte Carlo predic-
tions corresponding to 200 trajectories in which the tidal current was in-
cluded. Figure VII-29 represents, for comparison, the 30-day Monte Carlo
prediction for which the tidal current was not included.

In all the plots shown in the above figures and figure 2-13, the pro-
jected path represents that of the leading edge of the oil slick. Thus,

59

70.50 G9.00 67.50 66.00 6t.50

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

Figure 2-14. Twenty-day Monte Carlo prediction (wind and tidal currents)

60

theoretically, it represents the path of the slick after 30 days. The "x"
surrounded by the circle represents the location of the Avgo Merchant. The
boxed-in area represents the limits of the slick after 30 days or as other-
wise specified. The limits of the slick were provided by R. Griggs of the
U.S. Coast Guard. Each "x" along the path represents the end of a 5-day
period .

There are two different sets of Monte Carlo plots. One set (Figures
VII-24 and VII-55) depicts five separate Monte Carlo trajectories. Each
position of the leading edge of the spill is plotted every 2 hours for 30
days. The second, Figures VII-26 through VII-29 and figure 2-14, depicts a
point for each 200 trajectories after 5, 10, 20, and 30 days. The area with
the highest concentration of points indicates the most probable position of
the leading edge. The limits of the observed slick have been added to each
plot to aid in evaluating the accuracy of the predictions.

Discussion

The U.S. Naval Weather Service wind data for the Quonset region indi-
cates that westerly and northwesterly winds predominate. This yields a
general eastsoutheast movement of the oil slick. The trajectories calculated
follow the direction of the actual slick until the 25 to 30 day period. At
that time, the trajectories continue on their east-southeast path while the
slick assumes an almost due east heading. This occurs near 68°N longitude
and 38°W latitude. According to Sverdrup, Johnson, and Fleming (1942), the
Gulf Stream in the New England Atlantic area is located between 68° and 60°N
longitude and 37° and 41°W latitude and flows in an east-northeast direction
at a speed of approximately 1 knot. Due to yearly changes and meanders, it
is difficult to locate the Gulf Stream at any one time. Since only tidal
currents are used in the models, this would explain the inaccuracy of the
trajectories after 20 to 25 days. The addition of a strong east-northeast
current when the slick reached the Gulf Stream would give more accurate long-
term results.

Subsurface Currents

R. Gordon, M. Spaulding, P. Cornillon, and. R. Halm of the Department of
Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island generated a model which
predicted the subsurface drift of Argo Merchant oil. Directions of the
monthly mean bottom velocity vectors for December and January in the spill
area (Bumpus, 1973) as reported by the Bureau of Land Management (1976) in
thesis draft Environmental Impact Statement for the North Atlantic Region
were used along with estimates for maximum speed in the area (taken as 3.0
nautical miles per day throughout) as model input. A particle injected at
the spill location (41°0'N, 69°30'W) was advected using the closet bottom
velocity vector. A time step of 1 day was used.

Figure 2-15 shows the trajectory of a particle injected in the vicinity
of the spill location (41.0°N latitude, 69.5°W longitude) near the bottom.
The spill location is identified by a square (□) and subsequent positions at
daily intervals are denoted by crosses (X) . The bottom movement at first
proceeds towards the southwest and after approximately 5 days heads west.

61

12.23 71.76 71.29 70.82 70.33 63.88 69. 'M

LONGITUDE

6 3 , 9 ;i

Figure 2-15. Bottom drift from the Avgo Merchant wreck
site based on subsurface drift data.

62

About 11 days after the injection, the bottom particle moves northwest and
continues until it hits the shore at Martha's Vineyard 20 days after injec-
tion. It should be noted that of the directional data reported by Bumpus
(1973), four data points were used (all at a speed of 3.0 nautical miles per
day) to advect the particle.

2.3.6 Summary of Initial Modeling Results

Five different models were used to predict or hindcast the movement of
the oil on the water surface, and, in general, they all were successful in
establishing the general direction of drift. Conceptually, they all con-
sidered the oil as Lagrangian particles which were advected along by the
currents and given a differential oil/water velocity related to the wind.
Difference arose in what the models used for the advecting current fields
and wind factors, and in the sources of the wind data (real-time winds, cli-
matological wind series, or stochastic models).

In all cases the parameterizations were simple. The advective current
fields used were externally specified and were either a general mean current,
a predicted tide, or a correction term based on estimates of the errors in
the last model up-date. Nontidal time dependence or topographically control-
led regional currents were not modeled. The wind drift factor was intended
to represent the net effect of Ekman currents, Stokes drift, and momentum
transfer by waves. Options ranged from considering the Ekman drift explic-
itly, parametrically , or not at all. In all models some form of down-wind
motion was used, with the magnitude depending upon whether the Ekman drift
was considered separately or not.

In general, the models reflect a wind-dominated transport for the oil,
and the real-time winds coincide fairly well in direction with the climatol-
ogically derived winds. This makes the model all behave in a similar manner,
and it is difficult to evaluate the relative accuracy of the slightly differ-
ent approaches. For the Avgo Uevohant the models all gave useful and en-
couraging results. A more critical test will come in an advectively domin-
ated region with complex coastal morphology.

References

Bumpus, Dean F., 1973. A description of the circulation on the continental
shelf of the east coast of the United States. Progress in Oceanography
Vol. 6, pp. 111-157.

Bureau of Land Management, 1976. Draft Environmental Statement for the Outer
Continental Shelf off the North-Atlantic States, U.S. Department of
Interior, Visual #2.

Report of the Task Force - Operation Oil (Clean-up of the Arrow oil spill in
Chedabucto Bay, July 1970a, Canada Ministry of Transport.

COMDT First Naval District letter to CNO file 3120 ser 153 of 4 Jun 1970b.

63

Colton, J. B., and R. R. Stoddard. 1972. Average Monthly Sea-Water

Temperatures Nova Scotia to Long Island, 1940-1959. Serial Atlas of the
Marine Environment, Folio 21 Amer. Geogr. Soc. , New York.

Fribeiger, Arnold, and John M. Byers. Burning Agents for Oil Spill Clean-up,:
1971 Joint Oil Spill Conference Proceedings, Washington, D.C.

Godshall, F. , W. Seguin, and P. Sabol, 1976. A statistical technique for the
analysis and comparison of wind observation records. Appendix C, NOAA
Technical Report EDS-17 GATE Convection Subprogram Data Center; Analysis of
Ship Surface Meteorological Data Obtained During GAGE Intercomparison
Periods .

Haight, F. J., 1942. Coastal along the Atlantic Coast. Coast and Geodetic
Survey Special Publication 230. Washington, D.C.

Jelesnianski , C. P., 1970. Bottom stress time history in linearized equations
of motion for storm surges. Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 98, pp. 469-478.

Meserve, J. M. , 1974, U.S. Navy Marine Climatic Atlas of the World, Vol. 1,
Washington, D.C, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Milgram, J. H., 1977. Mass transport of water and floating oil by gravity
waves in deep water. Unpublished manuscript, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.

Smith, Cragg L. , 1974. Determination of the Leeway of Oil Slicks,"

Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, Report No. CG-D-60-75.

Smith, Richard A., James R. Slack, and Robert K. Davis, 1976. An oil spill
risk analysis for the North Atlantic outer continental shelf lease area.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 76-620, 50 pp.

Sverdrup, Johnson, and Fleming, 1942. The Oceans: Their Physics, Chemistry
and General Biology, Prentice Hall, New York.

Tully, Paul R. , 1969. Removal of Floating Oil Slicks by the Controlled
Combustion Technique, Oil on the Sea, Plenum Press.

U.S. Naval Weather Service Command, 1970. Summary of Synoptic Meteorological
Observations (SSMO) for North American Coastal Marine Areas, Vol. II:
Areas 4, Boston, 5, Quonset Point, 6, New York, and 7, Atlantic City,
National Technical Information Service, AD 707 699.

64

3. INVESTIGATIONS OF CHEMICAL PROCESSES
3.1 Basic Chemistry of Spilled Oil

The phrase "spilled oil" encompasses a wide variety of hydrocarbon
blends, including among others, crude oils, home heating oil, and heavy
residual fuels. Crude oils and petroleum products contain thousands of
individual chemical compounds, with a wide range of physical and chemical
properties. When spilled into the aquatic environment, light distillate
fuels, such as gasoline or jet fuels, do not behave in the same manner as do
heavy distillates or heavy residual (No. 6) fuels. The light fuels spread to
cover a large surface area with a thin film of oil, while the heavy fuels
tend to thicken and form "pancakes" of oil up to several inches thick.
Natural degradative processes are directly related to surface area of the
slick, and therefore remove oil from the sea surface much more rapidly in the
case of light oils than in the case of heavy products or crude oils.

Knowledge regarding the degradation of oil in the marine environment is
limited. We know what the major degradative processes are, i.e., those
natural processes that operate to modify the physical and chemical character-
istics of spilled oil, changing its viscosity, solubility, toxicity, and so
on. But we cannot predict the rate at which a No. 2 fuel oil will enter the
water column under a given set of conditions. If "oil" were pure benzene or
hexane, for example, then it would be a straightforward task to develop a set
of physical-chemical descriptors, or mathematical algorithms, which would
enable us to predict the behavior and fate of such "oil" under all possible
environmental conditions. Unfortunately, such is not the case. One problem
associated with the multicomponent nature of petroleum is a phenomenon known
as "skinning." When oil forms thick lenses, from a centimeter to several
inches thick, the evaporation of volatile components through the top sui.cace
(the air-oil interface) depletes the surface of the oil in light hydrocar-
bons, leaving behind heavier compounds characteristic of heavy fuel oils and
asphalts. These high-molecular-weight compounds form an essentially imper-
meable skin at the air-oil interface, precluding continued evaporation of the
lighter fraction from the interior of the oil lenses. This "skin" may be
broken up with sufficient turbulence, and the process of evaporation can then
restart. "Skinning" is only one of the many physical-chemical processes that
take place with increasing age of an oil slick* Processes considered under
the collective appellation of "chemical" include: (1) interactions with
suspended sediments; (2) evaporation; (3) dissolution; (4) emulsif ication;
(5) photo-oxidation; and (6) microbial degradation. The individual processes
are not completely independent, photo-oxidation enhances the dissolution of
the aromatic fraction of oil by the formation of more soluble carboxylic
acids, and so on. Brief summaries of each of the major processes are pre-
sented below.

3.1.1 Suspended Sediments

During the Santa Barbara Channel blowout in 1969, an unusually large
influx of suspended clay minerals from the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers
served to sink the oil on contact. A 1966 collision, involving the tanker

65

Anne Mildred Brrfvig, released 125,000 barrels of crude oil to the North Sea
almost instantaneously, but by the time local authorities had mobilized to
deal with the spill the oil was dissipating rapidly. The disappearance of
the oil was undoubtedly due to sinking. Whether it was the combination of
cold February weather and the high specific gravity of Iranian crude, or in-
teraction with suspended sediments, is not known, but little environmental
damage was recorded as a result of the accident. Evaporation of volatile
components of the No. 6 fuel oil released in the collision of the Arizona
Standard and the Oregon Standard under the Golden Gate Bridge in January 1971
resulted in an increase in specific gravity of the remaining oil, allowing
rapid dispersion of oil throughout the water column. How much of this pro-
cess was due to unaided sinking, and how much could be attributed to inter-
actions with the heavy suspended sediment load of San Francisco Bay, is not
clear. In the 1970 Arrow accident in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, a spill of
65,000 barrels of No. 6 fuel oil in rough, cold seas, investigators found
suspended oil particles (5 microns to 1 millimeter in size) widely distri-
buted in the water column as far as 250 kilometers away from the wreck.
Forrester (1971) estimated the flux of emulsified and particulate oil into
the water column at 40 to 50 barrels per day for the first 15 days after the
Arrow grounding.

The interaction of oil with suspended sediments is an important dissipa-
tive process, as the sinking of the Anne Mildred Brrfvig's cargo and the Santa
Barbara Channel spill show. There are two major classes of suspended par-
ticulate matter in which a distinction has to be made regarding the type of
interaction that takes place with dissolved hydrocarbons. The first includes
clay minerals of the kaolinite or montmorillonite type (water layers alter-
nating between aluminosilicate layers) , which swell when exposed to water or
hydrocarbons, and easily accommodate bilayers of hydrocarbons between alumi-
nosilicate sheets (absorption) . The second type of suspended sediments
includes such materials as Si02, CaC03, and other nonporous solids. On these
materials, dissolved hydrocarbons can be adsorbed. Obviously, adsorption on
nonporous solids will not remove much oil from the water column, and thereby
allow more oil to diffuse in, unless there is a high density of finely di-
vided particles in the water column. The effects of suspended particulate
matter become much less obvious when one considers (1) oil micelles inter-
acting with particles, (2) collision between suspended particles and the
slick itself, and (3) the coalescence of particles that have become coated
with oil. These three processes, as nature would have it, are of primary
importance in the interactions of oil with suspended sediments, yet we know
little or nothing about these processes.

3.1.2 Evaporation

Evaporation from an oil slick is responsible for the loss of about one-
fourth of most crude oil spills, representing those components that volatil-
ize at temperatures below approximately 270°C. The principal difficulty in
predicting evaporation is that it cannot be done for actual oil spills for
more than a short period of time, because of the multicomponent nature of
petroleum. Even for such light materials as No. 2 fuels and gasoline, mass
transfer within the liquid phase will determine the rate at which certain
volatile components will reach the oil-air interface, and as the spill i;

_s

66

depleted in its more volatile components, the rate of evaporation will de-
crease as evaporation proceeds. For a heavy residual fuel oil, such as No.
6, evaporation plays only a minor role, and is limited to its effect on the
light "cutter stock" often added to straight-run No. 6 to improve its hand-
ling characteristics.

3.1.3 Dissolution

True thermodynamic dissolution of petroleum hydrocarbons is not a sig-
nificant contribution to the mass transfer of oil from the surface into the
water column. The most volatile portions of crude oils and light distillate
fuels are also the most soluble, but rarely would one expect to find a sig-
nificant downward flux of oil due to dissolution. In terms of toxicity,
however, the dissolved light hydrocarbons present a great environmental
hazard. Making the distinction between true "dissolved" and colloidal or
supracolloidal hydrocarbon "droplets" in the water column is a difficult
problem even in the best of laboratory situations. Suffice it to say, for
the moment, that it is not unreasonable to lump the true dissolved fraction
of oil with the oil-in-water emulsified oil, discussed in the next section,
and the other forms of oil that are worked into the water column by one
mechanism or another.

3.1.4 Emulsif ication

Oil can form either micellar oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions, or water-in-
oil (w/o) emulsions. Micelles are colloidal aggregates of the lipoidal (oil)
phase suspended in the aqueous phase. Micelle formation is "good" from a
dissipation point of view, since the micelles are microscopic in size and are
readily distributed through the water colum. Their microscopic size, incor-
porating perhaps only a hundred hydrocarbon molecules per micelle, provides
much more surface area than could be available at the underside of a con-
tinuous oil slick, promoting degradation of o/w emulsions by microbial
oxidation. The w/o emulsions, known as "mousse," are a very different
problem, as they float and agglomerate into large masses. Such w/o emulsions
can cause fluid oils to become viscous, as well as cause viscous oils to
become fluid. Neither result is beneficial, as the product is an emulsion
with the consistency of melted Hershey's chocolate, whether one begins with
gasoline or with asphalt. "Mousse" is fluid .enough to coat shorelines
thoroughly, yet viscous enough to substantially retard evaporation. In the
1967 Torrey Canyon accident, the crude oil formed "mousse" before reaching
shore. In the 1975 Key West oil spill, a solvent-based detergent was added
to the oil before it was pumped over the side, producing a 60/40 w/o emul-
sion. During the Arrow spill in Chedabucto Bay, and in the 1969 West
Falmouth spill, mousse did not form, although in the latter two accidents oil
was mechanically driven into the water column and, in the West Falmouth spill
at least, into the sediments.

3.1.5 Oxidation

Oxidation of an oil slick enhances the dissolution rate of the oil and
produces surfactant molecules that will promote emulsif ication. There are

67

three major oxidative mechanisms to consider: photo-oxidation, auto-oxida-
tion, and microbial oxidation. Betancourt and McLean (1973) examined the
oxidative degradation of the No. 6 fuel oil from the Arrow spill, noting that
the original cargo from the Arrow contained 2.28% sulfur and that after 20
months of onshore weathering the sulfur content had dropped to 1.45%. Since
the sulfur-containing components of oil are generally not considered to be
volatile, the conclusion one arrives at is that sulfur-containing compounds
are preferentially oxidized during weathering.

Many investigators have contributed to our knowledge of microbial degra-
dation of oil, such phenomena having been the subject of several investiga-
tions since the 1920' s. Numerous organisms have been identified that can use
hydrocarbons as both an energy and as a carbon source, but the process of
biodegradation of oil is extremely complex. It may seem surprising at first
to read of the variety of hydrocarbons that can serve as "food" for micro-
organisms, from methane to asphalt, but were it not for the adaptability of
these organisms oil from natural seepages might well have covered the earth's
surface to a depth of several centimeters by now.

Microorganisms are able to convert hydrocarbons into more soluble alco-
hols, organic acids, and into CO2 and water via enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
For aerobic metabolism of a simple hydrocarbon, the oxidation reaction is
represented by the reaction:

cnH2n + (3/2)n02 ■* nC02 + nH20.

If the organism consumed all the available hydrocarbon for energy purposes,
the ratio of C02 produced to 02 consumed should equal 0.67. This ratio,
called the respiratory quotient, was examined in 1942 by Stone et al. for
mixed soil bacteria. They found values of the respiratory quotient as low as
0.12 for heavy fractions of crude oil, and as high as 0.64 for refined motor
oil. Also in 1942, Johnson et al. measured respiratory quotients for Bac-
terium alphaticum of 0.47 for heptane, 0.48 for octane, and 0.63 for nonane
and dodecane. Anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons can occur with either
nitrate or sulfate taking the place of oxygen as the electron donor. Anaero-
bic oxidation of hydrocarbons is usually incomplete, leaving the hydrocarbon
in some partly oxidized state rather than as C02 and water.

The biological conversion of a pure hydrocarbon to a more water-soluble
alcohol or acid assists in the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from the sea
surface. Since most of the hydrocarbon-utilizing organisms are not lipoidal,
the microbial oxidation of an oil slick is restricted to the aqueous side of
the water/oil interface. The increased solubility of the partly oxidized
intermediates by this process allows for transfer of some of the oil away
from the interfacial region. Beerstecher (1954), based on measurements at
room temperature, reported rates of crude oil oxidation of 1.2 to 1.5 g
m_2d~ , and for refined oil of about 0.5 g m-2d_1 .

There have been a number of investigations into the effect of the
molecular properties of the substrate on the rate of microbial oxidation of
petroleum hydrocarbons. In general, it can be said that the longer-chain

68

aliphatic hydrocarbons are more easily degraded than short-chain compounds,
though it may sometimes be difficult to provide adequate dispersion of long-
chain paraffins to allow for the maximum rate of degradation. Also, branched
chain hydrocarbons are utilized preferentially over their straight-chain
isomers. Unsaturation in a hydrocarbon offers a site for immediate hydro-
lysis, and as such encourages microbial oxidation. Multiply unsaturated
compounds such as butadiene are rapidly oxidized, but they do not occur in
crude oil. Aromatic compounds are attacked quite readily, possibly because
there are much more water-soluble than aliphatic compounds of comparable
molecular weight. The addition of side-chains to an aromatic compound facil-
itates microbial oxidation, as does increasing molecular weight.

The mechanisms by which spilled oil is transported away from the surface
of the ocean are complex and poorly understood. A major facet of the contin-
uous study of accidental oil spills must of necessity be the sampling and
analysis of the oil itself, the water column beneath the oil slick, and the
sediment/water interface, which is often the ultimate sink of "weathered"
oil. Such investigations were undertaken by the several groups involved in
the short- and medium-term assessment of the fate of the Argo Merchant oil.

There are numerous mathematical models in existence that attempt to de-
scribe the transport of oil in the marine environment. Most of these models
are limited to two-dimensional spreading and advection at the sea-air inter-
face. Understanding the physical and chemical transformations that oil
undergoes when spilled in the marine environment is an important facet in
developing three-dimensional oil spill models that will accurately predict
the transportation and concentrations of oil in the water column, and ulti-
mately to the sediments and littoral regions. For this reason, samples of
oil were collected from the Argo Merchant, from the slick, the water column,
and the sediments beneath the slick. All the samples were initially screened
at the USCG Research and Development Center by ultraviolet fluorescence and
thin-layer chromatography to determine the amount of oil present. Selected
samples have been sent to the NOAA's National Analytical Facility in Seattle,
Washington, for gas-chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. It
is the goal of this research effort to determine the extent to which the
Argo Merchant oil entered the water column as well as the sediments during
and immediately after the spill.

3. 2 Oil Sampling

One of the technical problems associated with the Argo Merchant oil
spill was the initial lack of reference samples of the cargo oil and bunker
fuel carried by the vessel. There are still no reference samples of the
latter. Two dirrerent No. 6 fuels were carried as cargo: 50,000 barrels of
one, and 139,000 barrels of other. The only oil sample withdrawn directly
from one of the cargo tanks was a 16-ounce sample taken from the No. 4 port
tank by J. H. Milgram of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on
December 19, 1976. Other samples of oil were taken from the slick on several
different occasions, as described below, but no samples were taken from the
Argo Merchant other than the one obtained by Milgram. Since the viscosities

69

of the two cargoes were reported to be nearly identical, it is hoped that
despite the lack of samples from the second, they may have differed only in
their relative proportions of "cutter stock."

P. Fricke of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution obtained 5 gallons of
"surrogate" Argo Merchant oil on February 5, 1977, from a tanker in Boston
harbor. This "surrogate" oil was No. 6 fuel oil from the same refinery and
had undergone the same refining process as the oil carried by the Argo Mer-
chant. Samples have been made available to all cooperating investigators for
further studies.

In addition to the surrogate sample, P. Fricke is trying to arrange for
samples of the two actual Argo Merchant oils to be shipped from the refinery
in Venezuela within a few months. Because of the apparent fractionation of
lighter components of the Argo Merchant oil into the water column, it will
also be necessary to obtain a reference sample of the "cutter stock," which
was used for improving the handling characteristics of the tanker's cargo,
before accurate oil-in-water concentrations can be reported. Fricke is
attempting to obtain such a sample also.

3.2.1 Oil Slick Sampling and Analyses

Samples

Samples that have played a significant role in the analysis of the fate
of the Argo Merchant oil slick include: (1) surface samples taken by J. H.
Milgram on December 17 and 19, 1976, within 1 mile of the tanker, and (2) a
surface sample taken with a bucket lowered from a helicopter on December 19
near the "head" end of the horeseshoe-shaped slick. The first samples were
12- to 24-hours old according to Milgram' s estimate. The second sample was
taken on December 19 by J. Gait and J. Mattson of NOAA at 41°04.0'N latitude,
69°18.2'W longitude, and was probably 2 to 3 days old. On December 23, S.
Fortier of the USCG Research and Development Center took three surface slick
samples from a helicopter. These samples are stored at the Center. On
December 25, the USCGC Vigilant obtained a sample from the large pancake of
oil sighted that day, and that was the last surface slick sample collected
from the oil spilled by the Argo Merchant. Part of the last sample is held
by Milgram at MIT.

Physical properties

Analyses of the surface slick samples as well as of the sample taken
directly from the Argo Merchant were performed by Milgram and by J. Quinn of
the University of Rhode Island. The physical properties reported by Milgram
for the cargo sample and the "thick" surface slick sample he obtained on
December 19 are listed in Table 3-1.

In addition, Milgram subjected the cargo sample to atmospheric distil-
lation, noting that 20% of the cargo sample distilled off at temperatures
below 120°C, undoubtedly representing the light distillate "cutter stock"

70

Table 3-1. Physical properties of cargo oil sample from No. 4 port tank and
"thick" slick sample taken on December 19 (J. H. Milgram, MIT).

Property Cargo sample Slick sample

Specific gravity 0.96 0.96

Surface tension 35 dynes/cm 35.5 cynes/cm

Viscosity, @ 10°C 33,298 cp 71,977 cp*

Pour point, ASTM D97-66 2°C 2°C

* The slick sample contained about 4% water, affecting the viscosity measure-
ment .

that is normally added to straight-run No. 6 fuel oil to improve handling
characteristics. The 2°C pour point is another indication of the substantial
fraction of cutter stock present in the cargo oil. An important observation,
made by Milgram early in the spill, was that the specific gravity of the
residue remaining after distillation to 210°C also exhibited a spevific
gravity of 0.96. This was an early indication that the oil was not going to
sink of its own accord, even after prolonged weathering.

Milgram also measured the surface tension of water pipetted from beneath
a thin film of oil, obtaining a value of 79 dynes/cm, as well as the surface
tension of water with a thin oil film on top, at 59 dynes/cm. The pour point
reported above is the "upper pour point" as defined by ASTM D97-66, and is
measured by (a) placing oil in a 1-inch diameter tube, (b) warming it up to
dissolve waxy components, and (c) then cooling it and measuring the tem-
peratures at which the oil does not move for 5 seconds, with the tube held
horizontally. Adding 3°C to the final temperature gives the "upper pour
point." Milgram notes that although the oil did not move for the required 5
seconds, it would begin to flow before 10 seconds had elapsed.

On December 22, Milgram gave aliquots of his December 19 samples to R.
Sexton of the University of Rhode Island. On December 23, these samples were
analyzed by gas chromatography by J. Quinn, URI, according to the following
procedure.

Chemical analysis by gas chromatography

Two drops of each sample was transferred to 10-milliliter pear-shaped
flasks using Pasteur pipettes, and two drops of CS2 were added to dissolve
the oil. Each sample was injected into a 5711 gas chromatograph under the
conditions listed in Table 3-2. A standard hydrocarbon mixture was injected
for identification of the peaks in the chromatograms, which are shown in

71

Table 3-2. Gas chromatograph conditions used by J. Quinn, URI

Condition

Specification

Column

Temperature program
Chart speed
Detector temperature
Injection port temperature
Range and attenuation
Amount injected

4% FFAP, 2 m x 2.2 mm inner diameter,
stainless steel.

75°C to 250°C at 8°C/min and hold.

0.25 in./min.

300°C.

250°C.

4 x 102.

2 to 3/ul.

Figures 3-1 and 3-2 for Milgram's two samples. The cargo sample is repre-
sented in Figure 3-1, and Figure 3-2 represents the slick sample obtained on
December 19 within 1 mile of the Argo Merchant. The presence of C^Q-Cig
n-alkanes in the two samples corroborates Milgram's analysis of 20% light
fuel oil in the cargo, and is consistent with the results obtained by R.
Jadamec of the USCG Research and Development Center, which are discussed in
the next section.

3.2.2 Water Sampling and Analyses

Samples

Water samples obtained after the Argo Merchant grounding included the
first taken during the WHOI R/V Oceanus II cruise on December 20 and 21 and
those obtained on the cruise of the URI R/V Endeavor, February 8-12. Other
vessels involved in water sampling were the USCGC's Evergreen, Vigilant,
Bittersweet, and NOAA's Delaware II. The sampling locations are plotted in
Figure 3-3; further details are given in Appendix V.

By far the largest number of samples were taken with Sterile Bag Samp-
lers (Model 1030, General Oceanics, Inc., Miami, Florida). This sampler is
designed to be lowered through the sea-air interface while sealed, opened by
messenger at depth, and automatically closing before being returned to the
surface. The sample of approximately 1 liter thus obtained is uncontaminated
by a surface oil slick, and is representative of the subsurface water. In
areas thought to be uncontaminated, additional samples were taken with stan-
dard Niskin bottles of the type that passes through the air-sea interface in
an "open" configuration and is closed at depth by a messenger.

72

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Figure 3-1. Gas chromatogram of Argo Merchant cargo sample,

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Figure 3-2. Gas chromatogram of oil sample taken from slick within

1 mile of the Argo Merchant by J. Milgram on December 19

73

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All water samples were either immediately frozen, or were extracted with
hexane aboard ship (on the later Endeavor cruises) in order to stabilize any
hydrocarbons contained within against bacterial degradation. Frozen samples
were transported, using a completely documented chain of custody, by G.
Heimerdinger , NOAA Liaison at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, to the
USCG R&D Center at Groton, Connecticut. The water samples were then extracted
and prescreened for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) by R. Jadamec of the Center.

A Chemical Analysis Committee, formed at a meeting at Woods Hole, Jan-
uary 3-4, 1977, is monitoring the continuing analyses of all water samples.

Ultra-violet fluorescence screening of water samples

By this procedure, one liter of sample is extracted twice, using 10-
milliliter portions of spectroquality hexane. The two hexane extracts are
combined and then analyzed by synchronous scanning ultraviolet fluorescence.
The excitation and emission monochromators are initially set at 255 and 280
nanometers, respectively. The continuous excitation-emission spectrum is
recorded until final settings of 475 and 500 nanometers on the excitation and
emission monochromators, respectively, are obtained. The resulting flu-
orescence spectrum reveals the distribution of the polyaromatic rings present
in the sample. Comparison of the sample spectrum with that of the reference
oil spectrum, obtained at various concentration levels, will indicate the
relative concentration of oil present in the sample. The sample taken from
surface slick by Gait and Mattson on December 19 is being used as the refer-
ence oil.

The screening of water column samples is still in progress. Analyses of
samples collected by the USCGC's Bittersweets Evergreen, and Vigilant di-
rectly beneath the slick indicate very low levels of PHC concentration. All
water samples analyzed indicate an absence of high-molecular-weight polyaro-
matic hydrocarbons at various depths beneath and around the slick from Decem-
ber 20 through December 31. The absence of 4- and 5-ring polyaromatic com-
pounds in the water makes it difficult to use the whole oil as a concentra-
tion standard. As a temporary compromise, the 2- and 3-ring portion of the
whole oil spectrum was employed as the concentration reference. The error
this introduces is one of slightly overestimating the amount of oil present
in the water column samples. Using this method of calibration, as well as
calibrating against the API "pool" No. 2 fuel oil (available from the Biology
Department, Texas A&M University), the highest petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)
concentrations measured were approximately 250 parts per billion. These were
found in samples taken beneath the slick by the USCGC's Vigilant and Bitter-
sweet. Samples on these cruises were taken at two depths ranging from 1 to
10 feet below the surface. It is in the deeper of the two samples that the
highest concentrations were found according to R. Jadamec. It is the con-
sensus of the chemical analysis committee that the oil observed in the water
samples is actually the "cutter stock," which represents about 20% of the
cargo oil. An effort is being made by P. Fricke of WHOI to obtain an authen-
tic sample of this "cutter stock." When a sample is obtained, the water
column samples will be corrected to it as a new standard.

75

Samples taken during the January 26-29 and February 8-12 Endeavor cruises
included water samples taken at the surface, at a depth of 6 meters, and near
the bottom, as well as bottom sediment samples at each station. The near-
bottom and sediment samples will be carefully analyzed to see if there is any
relationship between sediment PHC ' s and PHC ' s in the water column. The water
samples taken on both Endeavor cruises show a lower hydrocarbon content than
that observed in samples obtained from the Evergreen^ Bittersweet, and Vigi-
lant directly beneath the slick. In all cases, only the light aromatic
fraction of the Argo Merchant oil could be detected, if indeed it was Argo
Merchant oil at all. Representative samples of water column extracts are
being selected for additional GC-MS analysis at the NOAA National Analytical
Facility in Seattle, and several samples will be archived for eventual inter-
calibration with BLM's "benchmark" survey contractors for the Georges Bank
lease area.

"Total extractable organics" from Endeavor samples

On Endeavor cruise EN-002, December 28-30, C. Brown of URI analyzed six
water samples by infrared spectrometry for "total extractable organics." The
cruise track and station locations are shown on Figure 3-4, where the "X"
marks the location of the Argo Merchant. Stations 1 and 3 were well removed
from the area of surface oil contamination, and any discovery of oil in those
water samples would not be expected to have originated from the grounded
tanker. Station 2 was well within the area subject to nearly continual
surface contamination since December 19, and could have been expected to
exhibit some PHC contamination in the water column. Water samples were taken
at the surface at all three stations, at a depth of 6 meters at stations 1
and 2, and at the bottom (39 meters) at station 1. All six samples were
extracted with CCl^ by Brown's group at URI, and analyzed for "total extract-
able organics." At Station 1, they measured concentrations of 68 and 29
parts per billion, respectively, for the surface and 6-meter samples, values
that are not indicative of any unusual amount of contamination. The bottom
water sample at Station 1 yielded a value of 191 parts per billion, higher
than Brown could expect for the area, possibly because the bottom was dis-
turbed during the sampling.

At stations 2 and 3, the surface "total extractable organics" concen-
trations were 47 and 435 parts per billion, respectively, and the 6-meter
sample at station 2 showed a concentration of 455 parts per billion. This
last sample could have included oil from the Argo Merchant, and Brown sub-
jected this sample, plus the surface sample from station 3, to further anal-
yses .

The hydrocarbon concentrations revealed in the two samples by gas chro-
matography were also high, but were not significantly different from the
types and amounts found in the "clean" samples. Brown suspects that the high
values of total extractable organics in the two samples therefore are due to
soluble species rather than PHCs. Further analysis by infrared spectroscopy
of the 6-meter sample from station 2 indicated the presence of two organic
species: phthalic acid esters and an unidentifiable species. They tried to
determine whether these compounds may have originated by degradation of
Argo Merchant oil but so far this has not been confirmed by laboratory

76

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experimentation with Argo Merchant oil. It is conceivable that these com-
pounds were formed by biodegradation of the oil and cannot be simulated in
the laboratory.

J. Quinn of URI analyzed the two sediment samples from Endeavor cruise
EN-002 for total hydrocarbons by gas chromatography (FFAP) columns, after
isolation of hydrocarbons by thin-layer chromatography. He found 0.7 parts
per million total hydrocarbons at station 1, and 3.0 parts per million at
station 2, based on sediment dry weight. However, Quinn reports that Argo
Merchant oil was not detected in these samples. The two sediment samples
were also extracted with CCl^ by Brown, and the amounts of "total extractable
organics" measured by infrared spectrometry. At station 1, 15 parts per
million (wet weight) was found, and at station 2, 9 parts per million. These
values are typical of "clean" sediment, and bear no relation to the values
reported by Quinn for "total hydrocarbons."

Droplet size analysis at URI

Oil can be dispersed into the water column by breaking waves. This is
an important phenomenon and is affected by the surface chemistry of the oil
and water. In some instances the oil droplets are small enough to remain
suspended for so long that the suspension can be considered permanent (until
the oil is degraded) and in others the suspension is transitory. In the case
of the Argo Merchant it is certain that in the rough weather oil droplets
were driven down into the water column by breaking waves and some, or all, of
these droplets quickly rose back to the surface. Whether or not a substan-
tial number of semipermanent tiny droplets were driven into the water is
still an open question.

P. Cornillon of the Department of Ocean Engineering at URI also analyzed
the water samples from Endeavor cruise EN-002. His objective was to obtain
the particle size distribution of oil droplets as a function of latitude,
longitude, and depth in the water column. The presence of such particles in
the water column had been a major feature of the Arrow grounding in Cheda-
bucto Bay, Nova Scotia, in 1971 (Forrester, 1971). Cornillon hoped to obtain
some idea of what is involved in the entrainment process; specifically, if
oil droplets were discovered, whether they contained sediment or water or
were composed entirely of oil. To this end, water from Endeavor cruise EN-
002 was filtered through a Millipore filter with a pore size of 0.45 microns.
The filters were refrigerated and analyzed under a microscope.

The entire filter was scanned under a microscope at a magnification of
50, using reflected light. Any object that remotely resembled oil was
treated with carbon tetrachloride to dissolve the oil, and the object was
then reexamined for any change. One of the samples, the 6-meter sample at
URI station 2, was also scanned at magnification of 100 with reflected light
and at a magnification of 50 with transmitted light.

The results of these analyses to date are given in Table 3-3. Only the
surface sample taken at station 3 showed oil droplets larger than 10 microns
in size, and that was a single, large droplet. To complete this analysis,

78

each of the filters has yet to be scanned with a magnification of 50 using
transmitted light. Also, the smallest resolvable droplets will be determined
for each filter to obtain a lower limit in resolving power.

Table 3-3. Droplet distribution analysis of Endeavor cruise 002

water samples (Cornillon URI)

Depth of

Volume

Station

sample

Sampling

filtered

Oil

No.

(meters)

method

(liters)

observed

Remarks

18 Plankton

Too much particulate
matter

Niskin

0.85

No No oil particles >10
microns

Niskin

1.10

No High sediment load, no
oil >10 microns

39 Niskin

0.80

No High sediment load, no
oil >10 microns

Niskin

1.10

No Some sediment, no oil
>5 microns

0 Bucket

1.00

No Some sediment, no oil
>microns

0 Bucket

1.50

Yes Some sediment, one oil
droplet 155 x 300
microns

3.2.3 Sediment Sampling and Analyses

A large number of sediment samples were taken from the Evergreen,
OceanuSj Delaware II '_, and Endeavor during the last two weeks of December,
but for a variety of purposes and by different sampling procedures. At the
meeting at Woods Hole on January 3-4, 1977, all the cooperating investigators
agreed that the sediment samples should be handled in the same way as the
water samples, i.e., after extraction and prescreening by R. Jadamec at the
Coast Guard R&D Center, selected samples were to be sent to the NOAA National
Analytical Facility in Seattle for GC-MS analysis.

79

Sampling program

A chemical analysis committee, established at the Woods Hole meeting,
continues to maintain control over the selection of samples to be subjected
to further analysis. This committee consists of the following: James S.
Mattson, NOAA (Chairman); Richard Jadamec, USCG R&D Center; William MacLeod,
NOAA National Analytical Facility; John Farrington, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution; James Quinn and Chris Brown, University of Rhode Island; Richard
Feely, NOAA; Ed Myers, NOAA. All the samples that were in storage as of
January 3, 1977, have subsequently been handled, as have all samples taken on
Endeavor cruises 003, 004, and 005, according to the "chain of custody"
guidelines issued by EPA Region I (directive signed by John McGlenon, July 5,
1973). G. Heimerdinger of NOAA met the Endeavor on each return to assume
custody of the samples, and they have since been documented in accordance
with EPA guidelines.

At the Woods Hole meeting in January, the subject of the immediate im-
pact of the Argo Merchant oil spill was specifically addressed. This meet-
chaired by R. Kolpack, University of Southern California, and Don Swift,
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, NOAA, resulted in the
suggestions that investigators concentrate on benthic processes to determine
the area where oil might be deposited in the bottom sediments. Endeavor
cruise EN-003, with Eva Hoffman as chief scientist, was planned to carry out
this objective (Appendix V). The cruise started on January 26, 1977, and was
terminated by bad weather on January 29. A second cruise, EN-004, was con-
ducted from February 9 to 12, 1977, to complete the initial survey. A third
cruise was planned for February 21, 1977, to follow up on the findings of the
second cruise.

The sampling program included the area thought to be affected beneath
the surface slick, as well as marginal areas sufficiently beyond surface
slick extensions to serve as partial controls. Also included were areas in
the path of potential bottom sediment movement. In addition, the plan pro-
vided information about the bottom sediments and the near-bottom hydraulic
regime (about 100 centimeters above the sea floor) in order to assess bottom
transport processes.

The 27 sediment samples from Oceanus cruises 19 and 20 (Appendix V) 26
samples from Delaware II cruises 76-13 and 77-01 (Appendix V), 7 samples from
Endeavor cruise EN-002, and 16 samples from the USCGC Evergreen (a total of
76 samples, representing 42 stations) were taken between December 20 and
January 10. All these samples have been extracted and prescreened by R.
Jadamec of the USCG Research and Development Center, and the results of these
analyses are described later in this section.

The benthic survey cruises undertaken by URI on Endeavor cruises EN-003,
004, and EN-005 produced another suite of water column and bottom samples,
which were taken under the guidelines developed at the Woods Hole meeting on
January 3-4. Appendix V contains the cruise report for EN-003, during which
Endeavor was able to occupy only five stations because of bad weather, and a
cruise "report" for EN-004, when the URI vessel was able to largely complete

80

the survey as planned. Appendix V contains a description of the sampling
locations in the general area covered by the oil slick from the Argo Mer-
chant. In summary, it was assumed by URI that the most likely to show sig-
nificant quantities of oil would be:

(1) Areas covered by the slick for the longest period of time.

(2) Shallow areas.

(3) Areas covered by the slick when the sea state was high.

In addition, the remainder of the area covered by the slick (deeper areas and
areas covered when the sea state was calm) would also be sampled. Two
areas, designated "A" and "B" in Figure 3-5, were determined to have been
covered by heavy oil concentrations for at least 6 days. Area A includes the
site of the Argo Merchant. Area B is the area where the slick stalled for 6
days before moving eastward. URI investigators randomly selected 30 stations
within the two areas: 6 in area A, and 24 in area B. In addition to these
30 stations, URI chose 3 stations in shallow areas (designated "C") ; 3 that
were covered by a heavy concentration of oil during high sea states ("D") ; 2
that coincided with Endeavor cruise 002 stations 1 and 2 ("E") ; and 2 sta-
tions located between areas A and B ("F") .

Appendix V lists the positions of all the above stations, except those
designated "G," which were chosen by the chief scientist during Endeavor
cruise 004. And it is at two of these stations, G-42 and G-43, that oil has
been determined up to date, as well as at stations A-40 and D-36 (figure 3-
6).

Screening Procedures

Sediment samples are being screened by two methods: thin-layer chroma-
tography, and ultraviolet fluorescence. Selected samples are then forwarded
to the NOAA National Analytical Facility in Seattle for GC-MS analysis.

The ultraviolet fluorescence procedure developed by Gordon and Krisa
(1974) is being used on both the water column and sediment samples to deter-
mine if substantial quantities of oil are present. The thin-layer chromato-
graphic method was developed by Mississippi State University under contract
to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Thin-layer chromatographic screening of sediments. A measured volume of
sediment (5 cubic centimeters) is extracted with 2 milliliters of spectro-
quality hexane by stirring the slurry for 1 minute. The hexane is then de-
canted into a 5-milliliter vial and reduced in volume to 0.5 milliliter by
gentle warming over a hot plate. Twenty-five microliters of the concentrated
hexane extract is spotted on the active side of type 5A chromatographic paper
strip approximately 1.5 centimeters above the bottom edge. The spot is
allowed to dry thoroughly and then developed in a mixture of 35% petroleum
ether and 65% benzene for 45 to 60 seconds. The chromatographic strip is
allowed to dry and viewed under ultraviolet light. The presence of a blue
fluorescent spot is indicative of the presence of oil. The greater the
intensity of the fluorescence, the greater the quantity of oil. The minimum

81

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detectable level of fluorescences is equivalent to 2 micrograms of oil con-
tained in 5 cubic centimeters of sediment.

Ultraviolet fluorescence screening of sediment samples. A measured vol-
ume of sediment (10 cubic centimeters) is extracted with 5 milliliters of
spectroquality hexane by stirring the slurry for 1 minute. The extract is
then removed and analyzed by the synchronously scanning fluorescence techni-
que used for the water samples. Comparison of the sample spectrum with that
of the reference oil spectrum at various concentrations indicates the rela-
tive concentration of oil present in the samples. The reference oil is the
same as that being used for the water samples.

Preliminary Results

All sediment samples have been screened by the thin-layer chromato-
graphic procedure. Samples collected on the Evergreen, Delaware II 76-13,
and Delaware II 77-01 cruises indicate extremely low levels of petroleum
concentrations, with a majority of these samples having no fluorescent blue
spot. Sediment samples collected on Ooeanus cruises 19 and 20 indicate
substantially higher levels of petroleum concentrations than those obtained
on the Evergreen and Delaware II cruises. The samples collected on Ooeanus
cruise 20 at stations 1 and 5 have the highest level of petroleum concentra-
tion. The PHC found at station 1 is a light distillate, while that found at
station 5 is a heavy fuel oil that appears unrelated to the Argo Merchant
oil. Splits of significant samples from all cruises are being forwarded to
the NOAA National Analytical Facility in Seattle, for complete GC-MS analysis
under the direction of W. MacLeod. Petroleum concentration levels in these
samples will also be determined by ultraviolet fluorescence and combined high
pressure liquid chromatographic and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques by
the USCG Research and Development Center and by Mississippi State University.

Analyses of sediment and water column samples collected on the Endeavor
003 and 004 cruises are still in progress. Preliminary analyses of stations
occupied in the vicinity of the bow section of the Argo Merchant indicate
high levels of Argo Merchant oil in the sediment. Analyses of three sediment
samples collected at station G-43 on the Endeavor 004 cruise indicate concen-
trations higher than 50 parts per million based on wet sediment, with the
highest level found in grab 2 at station G-43. Tables 3-4 and 3-5 summarize
the preliminary sediment analysis data for samples collected in the vicinity
of the bow section of the Argo Merchant . All concentrations are approximate
levels of concentrations based on the December 19 sample collected by J.
Mattson and J. Gait of NOAA. Analysis of water column samples collected on
the End.eavor 004 cruise, incidentally, again indicate no presence of poly-
aromatic hydrocarbons.

3.2.4. Summary

If the Argo Merchant oil has entered the water column in any significant
amounts, only the light aromatic fractions have done so. There is no evi-
dence to date of any significant amounts of the heavy polyaromatics. Anal-
yses are in progress to determine if there is a relationship between the

84

Table 3-4. Estimated oil concentrations per cubic centimeters of wet
sediment samples collected on the Endeavor 004 cruise

Sample

Concentration Sample
(parts per million)

Concentration
(parts per million)

G-43

Grab

1

G-43

Grab

2

G-43

Grab

3

D-36

Grab

1

D-36

Grab

2

D-36

Grab

3

G-42

Grab

1

G-42

Grab

2

G-42

Grab

3

A-40

Grab

1

A-40

Grab

2

A-40

Grab

3

C-39

Grab

1

C-39

Grab

2

C-39

Grab

3

C-23

Grab

1

C-23

Grab

2

B-15

Grab

2

B-15

Grab

3

> 50
>100

> 10
>0.1
<0.1
>3.0
>1.0
<1.0
>1.0
<0.1
<0.1
>1.0
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
>1.0
<1.0

D-

-35

Grab

1

D-

-35

Grab

2

D-

-35

Grab

3

G-

-41

Grab

1

G-

-41

Grab

2

G-

-41

Grab

3

A-

-34

Grab

I

A-

-34

Grab

2

A-

-34

Grab

3

A-

-33

Grab

1

A-

-33

Grab

2

A-

-33

Grab

3

B-

-18

Grab

1

B-

-18

Grab

3

F-

-28

Grab

1

B-

-7

Grab

1

B-

-7

Grab

2

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0

1

<0

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

<0.

1

light petroleum fraction found in the water column and the lighter components
of the Argo Merchant oil. However, since representative samples of the
original cargo of the tanker are not yet available, the December 19 slick
sample collected by Mattson and Gait will be used in the interim.

Bottom photographs taken by the USCGC Evergreen indicate a clean bottom,
which supports the sediment screening results for the samples collected on
the Evergreen, and Delaware II 76-13 and 77-1 cruises.

Analyses of sediment samples collected in the area around the bow sec-
tion of the Argo Merchant show considerable levels of oil from the tanker,
and since these levels have been found only in this vicinity it is reasonable
to infer that residual oil remaining in the bow section was imparted to the
sediment as the bow drifted along the bottom toward deeper water. All sedi-
ment screening results to date are summarized in Tables 3-4 and 3-5, which
indicate a moderate degree of PHC contamination throughout the area. An
indication of Argo Merchant oil found in B-15 grabs 2 and 3 from Endeavor
cruise 004 has been noted and is being investigated. The presence of Argo
Merchant oil shown in Figure 3-6, can best be explained at present by the
bottom transport of suspended oil sediments. Bottom currents in December and
January in the area are 10 centimeters per second (Bumpus, 1973), which is
sufficient to keep sand (grain sizes from 0.125 to 0.75 mm), the primary

8 5

Table 3-5. Preliminary thin-layer chromatographic screening of sediment

samples

Sample

Concentration

Sample

Concentration

Evergreen

A-l

-

A- 2

-

A- 3

-

A- 4

-

B-l

_

B-2

-

B-3

-

B-4

-

C-l

_

C-2

-

C-3

+

C-4

-

D-l

_

D-2

-

D-3

-

D-4

-

Oceanus 20

1A

+■

IB

+

1C

0

2A

+

2B

0

2C

+

3A

0

3B

+

3C

+

4A

+

4B

+

4C

+

5A

+

5B

+■

5C

+

6A

4-

Oceanus 20

13A

+

13B

+

13C

+

14A

+

14B

+

14C

+

Oceanus 1 9

1:1(A)

+

1:2(B)

+

1:3(C)

+

2: KA)

+

2:2(B)

+

Delaware II

76-13

4

0

6

0

Delaware II 77-01

6 0

7 +

10 +

11 +

12 +
14 0
18 0
21 +
23 +
27 +
29 +
31 0

35 +

36 +

38 0

39 +

86

Table 3-5. Continued.

Sample

Concentration

Sample

Concentration

Endeavor 004

A-31:l +

A-31:2 0

A-31:3 0

Endeavor 004

D-36:l

D-36:2
D-36:3

+

+
+

A-33:l

G-43:l
G-43:2
G-43:3

G-42:l
G-42:2
G-42:3

G-41:l
G-41:2
G-41:3

+

+
+
+

+
+
0

A-34:l
A-34:2
A-34:3

A-40:l
A-40:2
A-40:3

C-39:l
C-39:2
C-39:3

+
+
0

0

+

0

+

- = no fluorescence.

0 = less than or equal to 2 micrograms per 5 cubic centimeters of wet sedi-
ment .
4- = more than 2 micrograms per 5 cubic centimeters of wet sediment.
-H- = very high levels.

sediment type in the area, in suspension and move the suspended load at
approximately 3 kilometers per day. Ths explanation is further substantiated
by comparing the sediment screening results shown in Table 3-5 for Evergreen
station B and Endeavor station G-42. The former based on samples taken in
December, indicate a clean bottom; the latter3, based on samples taken in
February, indicate the presence of Argo Merchant oil. The conclusion arrived
at is that the movement of the tanker's bow section, after it was sunk on
December 31, over the sand bottom mechanically worked oil into the sediment
and these sediments are being transported by the southwesterly bottom cur-
rents in the area.

87

References

Beerstecher, E., Jr., 1954. Petroleum Microbiology . Elsevier Press,
Houston, Texas, 375 pp.

Betancourt, D. J., and A. Y. McLean, 1973. Changes in Chemical Composition
and Physical Properties of a Heavy Residual Oil Weathering Under Natural
Conditions. J. Inst. Petroleum, Vol. 59, pp. 223-230.

Forrester, W. D., 1971. Distribution of Suspended Oil Particles Following the
Grounding of the Tanker Arrow. J. Marine Research, Vol. 29, pp. 151-170.

Johnson, F. H. , W. T. Goodale, and J. Turkevich, 1942. J. Cellular Comp.
Physiol. , Vol. 19, pp. 163-172. '

Stone, R. W. , M. R. Feuska , and G. C. White, 1942. J. Bact., Vol. 44, pp.
169-178.

88

4. INVESTIGATIONS OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND EFFECTS

Most studies of the biological effects of oil have been done in labora-
tory or in nearshore areas. Extensive field studies that distinguish teal
effects from naturally occurring ecosystem variability are virtually non-
existent .

Although before-after studies can be designed to assess the impact of
predictable events, such as oil drilling on the Continental Shelf and ocean
dumping of wastes, adequate studies of this nature are lacking, because it is
both difficult and expensive to plan and execute these investigations given
the limitations of time and available funding.

The grounding and breaking of the Avgo Merchant and subsequent ground-
ings of other oil tankers on the Continental Shelf are dramatically illus-
trative of events that are not predictable. For example, during the past 18
months, the Northeast Fisheries Center has been requested by responsible
officials — local, state and federal — to assess the impact of four major
environmental incidents on the fishery resources of the northeast Continental
Shelf. In each of these incidents, special studies were mounted to assess
the impact on the environment and living resources. These efforts, however,
were of limited duration, and little information on the baseline conditions
or health of the stocks is available. We are dealing with a complex ecosys-
tem that requires a combination of short-term tactical observations that can
be evaluated against a background of long-term baseline information on the
condition and health of fish and shellfish stocks.

In order to effectively deal with these problems a program is needed
that (1) encompasses the coordination of studies of various groups and
agencies, (2) provides for the fundamental and long-term study of the ocean
ecosystem that is ultimately necessary, and (3) produces suitable information
for interim or near- term policy guidance and decision making.

An integrated field approach is necessary, which couples in-depth "pro-
cess oriented" studies at specific sites with long-term monitoring of pro-
ductivity of fish stocks.

At present, no single program exists that can accommodate these objec-
tives. However, NMFS, NOAA, is developing a plan to monitor and assess
selected systems and biological and environmental parameters that are criti-
cal indicators of the state of health of the ocean. The plan calls for a
long-term federal effort to acquire, process, analyze, and disseminate in-
formation concerning the condition, stability, and productivity of marine
populations.

4.1 Fisheries Investigations

The impact of the Avgo Mevchant oil spill on the fish and shellfish
stocks of Nantucket Shoals and southern Georges Bank is difficult to assess
in the short term of 2 months. The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS)
NOAA, has been conducting semiannual surveys of groundfish from the Gulf of

89

Maine to Cape Hatteras for the past 15 years to assess and predict changes in
abundance of the principal fish stocks in the area. Major changes before the
Argo Merchant spill have been the result of the interaction between intensive
fishing and natural environmental fluctuations, which had reduced the fish
biomass substantially from former abundance levels in the 1950' s and early
1960's.

To date no comprehensive study has been carried out on the effects of
oil on the productivity of fish populations on the northeast Continental
Shelf. In fact, most studies concerning the effects of oil on fish and
shellfish have been concerned with the onshore or nearshore impacts on lit-
toral organisms. Definitive results on the effects on populations of fish
are rare. Laboratory studies have shown that crude oil can damage embryos
(Kiihnhold 1969, 1974). Also, the zooplankton food of fish larvae have been
found to suffer high mortalities from exposures to crude oil in laboratory
experiments (Mirnov, 1969a, b) . In contrast, recent observations from col-
lections made at sea have indicated that zooplankton particularly copepods,
can ingest particles of oil and pass them through the gut without any appar-
ent effects. Some species of adult fish have been observed to avoid areas
contaminated with oil. However, the more sensitive egg and larval stages are
carried by the tides and currents and lack the ability to avoid oil spill
areas. Bivalve shellfish (quahogs, scallops, mussels) are sedentary and have
only limited capability to remove large amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons.
They have been found to suffer significant mortalities in areas contaminated
with oil (Jeffries and Johnson, 1975) . Proper assessment of the impact of a
major spill on the Continental Shelf requires the combined effort of exten-
sive sea sampling and laboratory support studies. The following investiga-
tions are among the first attempts to determine how oil spilled on the
Continental Shelf affects the productivity of fishery resources. Only by
conducting integrated studies concerning physiological, genetic, and patho-
logical effects on metabolism and reproduction through surveys of changes in
the abundances of populations can we begin to define the real extent of
damage caused by the oil.

On December 17, after meeting of scientists of Woods Hole had discussed
plans for research in the event of the breakup of the Argo Merchant, the
Delaware II was contacted and informed of the possibility that the ship might
be diverted to the scene of the spill to conduct research. On December 20,
the Delaware II terminated its trawl survey operations, steamed to Woods
Hole, Massachusetts, and prepared for a short cruise to survey the fish
stocks, ichthyoplankton, and benthic organisms around the oil spill. The
ship arrived on December 21 and a group of NMFS scientists from Woods Hole
and Narragansett, Rhode Island, under the direction of Henry Jensen, prepared
to sail as soon as possible. The cruise plan was to sample near the edge of
the oil slick without contaminating the sampling gear or the ship, and to
obtain as many samples of water, fish, benthic organisms, and plankton as
time would permit. The ship sailed on the afternoon of December 22, began
fishing that night, and, after occupying 11 stations (Figure 4-1), returned
to Sandy Hook on December 24.

90

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Planning for the second cruise of the Delaware II was done more delib-
erately than for the first, but still in an atmosphere of emergency. The
Argo Merchant had broken up and the oil had spread more than 150 miles to the
east-southeast, crossing part of the South Channel and the southwest of
Georges Bank. Maps of oil slick location observed from USCG overflights were
used as a guide in the selection of sampling stations.

Since no one knew if the oil had mixed downward in the water column or
had reached the bottom, it was impossible to define the contaminated area
with any certainty. Three categories of stations were identified and sel-
ected for sampling: (1) control stations well away from the site of the
spill and outside the influence of the spill overrun; (2) possibly contami-
nated stations outside the immediate area of the wreck, but under the overrun
of the drifting oil spill; and (3) probably contaminated stations within
about 20 miles of the wreck and under the overrun of the heaviest and most
persistent concentrations of the drifting oil.

Approximately 65 sampling stations were designated, based on random
selection of stations within each numbered series of depth strata normally
used on NMFS groundfish trawl surveys. These stations were scattered
through-out much of Georges Bank south of 41° 45'N latitude and east of 70°
00'W longitude. Several control stations were selected east of Cape Cod near
Wellflett, and the plan was for the Delaware II to go out through the Cape
Cod Canal and sample the control stations first. Initially, the ship would
stay north of the potentially contaminated area, work eastward across Georges
Bank in the uncontaminated area, then work south across the path of the slick
overrun, and finally return westward into the area that held the greatest
prospect of contamination.

This plan was followed on cruise DE 77-01 through the first 28 stations,
when the cruise was disrupted by stormy weather and the ship sought shelter
near Martha's Vineyard. She returned to the vicinity of the spill when the
weather improved and successfully completed an additional 11 stations before
being forced to return to Woods Hole by a severe storm. The locations of
these stations are shown in Figure 4-2. A description of the observations
and collections made on both cruises is given in Appendix V. Included in the
Delaware II cruise reports is a description of the surface sediments by R.
Wigley, NEFC, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, from samples collected during these
cruises.

The University of Rhode Island conducted a cruise of the Endeavor from
December 26-29, 1976, with Jim Quinn as chief scientist. Two stations were
occupied, and the following biological samples were taken: (1) one bongo net
tow with 0.505 and 0.333 millimeter mesh nets at each station at various
depths; (2) plankton net tows on two occasions at each station to sample the
water column at the surface and 10- and 20-meter depths; (3) grab samples for
sediment and benthic organisms at each station using a Smith-Mclntyre grab
sampler (three at Station 1 and four at Station 2) . Only one usable sediment
sample was obtained at Station 2; the rest produced only small pebbles and
shells, indicating the possibility of a gravel bottom.

92

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Additional cruises of the Endeavor took place on January 26-29, February
8-12, and February 21-25, 1977. These cruises were designed to further
delineate the amount of oil in the water column and in the sediments, as well
as to continue the assessment of oil impact on the biology of the affected
area. Reports on all four Endeavor cruises are contained in Appendix V.

The NMFS and URI are now beginning both an extensive sampling program
and laboratory studies of fish, shellfish, and plankton populations that may
have been damaged by the Argo Merchant spill. Twelve to 18 months will be
required to complete the study and sort out the complex interactions among
the levels of fishing mortality, natural mortality, oil mortality, and the
sublethal effects of oil on the productive potential of fish resources. A
short-term study based on the analysis of the results of three surveys of the
spill area, laboratory observations, and an account of interviews with fisher-
men is underway. A brief summary of NMFS and URI studies is given below,
including preliminary results.

4.1.1 Zooplankton Studies

The material in this section was contributed by R. Maurer of NMFS, NEFC ,
Narragansett , Rhode Island, and is based on samples collected during the
first cruise of the Delaware JJ(DE 76-13).

A full array of plankton samples was taken at Stations 4 through 9 on
the first Delaware II cruise (Figure 4-1 and Table 4-1). Standard oblique
tows were made concurrently with large 61-centimeter bongos (0.505- and
0.333-millimeter mesh nets) and small 20-centimeter bongos (0.253- and 0.165-
millimeter mesh nets) , quantitatively integrating the water column from near
the bottom to surface. In addition, 10-minute surface tows were made with a
1-by 1/2-meter neuston net (0.505-millimeter mesh net). Samples from the
oblique tows (0.333-millimeter mesh net) were analyzed by the Plankton Sort-
ing Center (NEFC, Narragansett) to provide information on plankton biomass,
abundance, and diversity. Results from this analysis are presented in Table
4-2 and Table VII-15 in Appendix VII.

The dominant copepod species from each station were cleared (rendered
transparent) with lactic acid and examined under a dissecting scope for the
presence of oil. On the basis of a preliminary examination the contamination
was classified as (1) external smudges on the exoskeleton; (2) mandibular
particles adhering to feeding appendages or tar stains on mandibles (Figure
4-3) ; and (3) oil particles that had been ingested and were either stored or
present in the gut, and/or incorporated in feces (Figure 4-4).

Zooplankton biomass ranged from 2.0 to 16.4 cc/100 m3 (Table 4-1). The
lowest biomass measured was within the oil slick area at Station 7, while the
highest values were recorded at inshore Stations 4 and 9. Zooplankton num-
bers follow trends in biomass. Extremely high numbers and biomass occurred
at Station 9, which was located on the boundary of the visible slick.

Zooplankton species abundance is shown in Table VII-15 in Appendix VII.
Life stages indicate a separation of the more dominant forms into size cate-
gories of large, medium and small.

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Table 4-2. Occurrence of oil contamination on dominant copepod species

Species
Station 4

Centropages typicus
C. hamatus
Pseudo-Paracalanus

Station 5

Calanus f inniarchicus
Centropages typicus
Pseudo-Paracalanus

Station 6

Calanus f lnmarchlcus
Centropages typicus
Pseudo-Paracalanus

Station 7

Calanits f lnmarchlcus
Centropages typicus
Pseudo-paracalanus

Examined

Contain

55

1

10

2

163

8

Contaminated Contaminated

1.8

20.0
4.9

20

11

100

61

100

25

41

1

100

16

21

0

100

14

104

30

105

35

2.4

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0.0

Type of Contamination
EMi

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2

3

6

61.0

1

1

59

25. C

-

18

7

14

14.0

2

7

0

28.8

0

1

29

34.3

2

11

10

Station 8

Calanus f lnmarchlcus
Pseudo-Paracalanus
Metrldia lucens

76

12

50

5

32

3

15.8

10.0

9.4

10
4

1

Station 9

Centropages typicus
C. hamatus
Pseudo-Paracalanus

45

13

B

3

60

3

28.8

37-5

5-0

Types of contamination E = external

M = mandibular
I = ingested

96

\y

Centropages typicus , ventral view.

Calanus f inmarchicus , lateral view.

Figure 4-3. Mandibular contamination. Oil particles adhering
to feeding appendages. (Photographs by R. Maurer,
NMFS, NEFC, Narragansett , Rhode Island.)

97

Centropages typicus ; note rounded stored particles,

<**"!*% N*|

Pseudocalanus minutus ; oil present only in alimentary tract.

Figure 4-4. Ingested contamination. Oil present in gut and natural
oil storage areas. (Photographs by R. Maurer, NMFS ,
NEFC, Narragansett , Rhode Island.)

98

Considerable differences in biomass, total numbers, and species composi-
tion, as well as individual species abundance occurred within relatively-
short distances (10 to 25 miles) from Nantucket Shoals to Great South Chan-
nel, as shown in Tables 4-1 and VII-15 (Appendix VII). These differences can
be used to define the communities and to pair the stations as follows:

1 . Stations 4 and 9 - Shoal Community - Nantucket Shoals. These sta-
tions are characterized by a shallow (40 meters) , well-mixed physical envi-
ronment, extremely turbulent during winter months. Zooplankton numbers are
strongly dominated by small calanoid copepods of the genera Pseudocalanus and
Paracalanus, with medium-size developmental stages, comprising 73% (Station
4) and 50% (Station 9) of their numbers. These have been lumped together and
will be referred to as Pseudo-paracalanus . The turbulent nature of this
shoal environment is demonstrated by the large number of gammarid amphipods,
especially Monoculodes , in the collections. These specimens were apparently
lifted into the water column in the vertical turbulence.

The incidence of contamination at Station 4 (Table 4-2) was quite low
for Centropages typicus and Pseudo-paracalanus . A somewhat higher value was
recorded for C_. hamatus, of which only 10 specimens were examined. C^.
typicus samples along the slick boundary (Station 9) were found to have a
relatively high incidence of mandibular and ingested particles.

2. Stations 5 and 8 - Transitional Community. These stations, taken at
about 55 meters, exhibit characteristics of both the shoal and channel com-
munities. Numbers again are dominated by Pseudo-paracalanus , especially at
Station 8. A larger calanoid, Centropages typicus, appears as a codominant
form. Total zooplankton numbers are 5 to 10 times less than those recorded
at the adjacent shoal stations. Contamination appears greatest at Station 5,
outside the slick. Over 50% of the C_. f inmarchicus and C_. typicus were
affected; most contained ingested particles.

3. Stations 6 and 7 - Channel Community. This is a distinctly differ-
ent community, characterized by low biomass, low total numbers, and dominated
by larger copepods, C_. f inmarchicus (Station 7), and C_. typicus (Station 6).
This assemblage is similar in part to the "Calanus community" of the Gulf of
Maine (including Calanus f inmarchicus , Pseudocalanus minutus , Metridia
lucens, Sagitta elegans, and Parathemisto) and unlike the Georges Bank winter
community, which Clarke et al. (1943) showed to be Pseudocalanus dominated.
Contamination at Station 6 outside the slick is low, while inside the slick
at Station 7 a high number of ingested particles were recorded for C_. typicus
and Pseudo-paracalanus .

Significant contamination was found in copepods in all three communi-
ties, and the occurrence was not restricted to the visible slick area (Table
4-2) , indicating that oil contamination occurred in a major component of the
food web. Oil droplets removed from the alimentary tracts of the predominant
copepod species, Centropages typicus, were examined for petroleum hydrocarbon
content using gas chromatography. The resulting chromotagrams were compared
by W. W. Kiihnhold (University of Kiel, FRG) and R. Lapan (EPA) with chroma-
tograms of oil from the Argo Merchant and were found to be similar.

99

When oil is incorporated into the feces of zooplankton the specific
gravity of the combined pellet (oil and feces) is greater than the oil before
ingestion, and it therefore sinks in the water column (Parker et al . , 1970).
Ingestion by plankton animals acts as a precipitation mechanism for otherwise
buoyant oil particles. The contaminated fecal pellets may then either become
covered by sediment or ingested by detritus feeders.

The impact of oil on zooplankton is not clear. The observed oil con-
tamination could affect feeding and reproduction. Sensitive chemoreceptive
pores are located along the dorsal exoskeleton of copepods. The pores are
used for positioning during reproduction. If they were to become impacted
with oil, the individual probably would not be able to reproduce success-
fully.

Mandibular contamination shown in copepods in Figure 4-3 may interfere
with the handling and ingesting of desired food particles. The toxicity of
ingested oil is poorly understood. The degree of toxicity depends on the
presence of volatile, aromatic compounds that are released through time as
the oil "ages." Additional studies are planned by NMFS to assess the effects
of petroleum hydrocarbons on zooplankton.

4.1.2 Ichthyoplankton Studies

Ichthyoplankton studies were contributed by W. Smith, D. Busch, L.
Sullivan, and K. Sherman of NEFC laboratories at Sandy Hook and Narragan-
sett and are based on samples collected during the first cruise of the Dela-
ware II (DE 76-13) . Fish eggs and larvae were collected with paired bongo
samplers and a surface neuston net at Stations 4 through 9 on the first
Delaware II cruise (DE 76-13) using standard Marine Resources Monitoring,
Assessment, and Prediction Program (MARMAP) sampling procedures (Figure 4-1).
Stations 7 and 8 were within the area of oil pancakes. Station 9 was at the
boundary between "clean" and oil-contaminated surface water, while Stations
4, 5, and 6 were outside the southern periphery of the oiled area. The
neuston nets towed on Stations 7 and 8 were saturated with oil (Figure 4-5) .

Only two species of eggs were in the samples: cod and pollock. Pollock
eggs were most numerous within and adjacent to the spill zone, at Stations 7,
8, and 9, while cod eggs were concentrated around the periphery of the spill,
at Stations 4, 5, and 6 (Figure 4-6).

At Station 9 adjacent to the spill area, oil globules were found adher-
ing to the surface membrance (chorion) of 93% of the pollock eggs. Of these
eggs, later examined by A. Longwell at the NMFS Milford Laboratory, 98% were
dead or moribund as determined through cytogenetic examination. In contrast,
only 64% of the cod eggs showed evidence of oil contamination. At Stations
4, 5, and 6 outside the spill area, more of the eggs were viable.

Six species of fish larvae were in the collections: sand launce, cod,
pollock, rockling, hake, and herring. Of these species, only sand launce was
abundant. Other larvae were rare (Table VII-16 in Appendix VII). The abun-
dancede of sand launce decreased sharply at the two sampling stations within

100

Figure 4-5. G. Carter, NMFS , holds oil-saturated neuston net
after station 8 on Delaware II cruise DE76-13.
(Photograph by R. Bolsvert, NMFS.)

101

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102

the spill area. The reasons for the decrease are not clear, but the analysts
assume that the decrease in population may be associated with the negative
impact of the oil on the viability of larvae. Samples collected from this
area during the second Delaware II cruise, DE 77-1, will be examined to
corroborate this assumption. The sand launce, while not important in the
commerical fishery, is a key species in the ecosystem. It is the basic food
of predatory fish, including cod, haddock, silver hake, as well as marine
mammals, including porpoises and whales. Little can be said about the other
species as they occurred in very low numbers ( 15 per station) over the
entire survey area.

The most notable change was in the decrease of sand launce larvae at
Stations 7 and 8 within the spill zone. This decline in abundance may have
been related to Argo Merchant oil contamination. Additional sampling of the
area will be conducted to assess sand launce stocks in an effort to estimate
the range of "normal" variation in population distribution and abundance.
Also, mortality among pollock eggs was increased significantly in the area of
the spill, as evidence by the large numbers of moribund embryos in eggs con-
taminated with oil. Cod mortality occurred but was lower. Studies are
underway to obtain estimates of the extent of mortality inflicted on the
populations of both cod and pollock stocks by the Argo Merchant oil.

4.1.3 Genetic Studies

These studies were contributed by A. Longwell of NMFS , NEFC, Milford,
Connecticut and are based on samples collected on the first cruise of the
Delaware II, DE 76-13.

It has been demonstrated in the laboratory that compounds extracted from
oil films are toxic to fish larvae and to the early developmental stages of
planktonic fish eggs. Failure in the past to establish detrimental effects
of oil spills in the field may be attributable to the lack of sufficient,
appropriate field tests that might be conducted quickly and cheaply enough
when the need arises, as well as to the fortunate resiliency of the ecosys-
tem. However, extrapolation of laboratory data to the field without ade-
quate field testing can be done only with the utmost caution.

Toxicity of oil components will, of course, vary according to the
developmental stages of the eggs at exposure. That there are sublethal
effects which lead to later mortality of the fish eggs is evident from the
published literature on experimental studies. Teratogenic effects (deform-
ities) are common in oil toxicity tests.

Aromatic hydrocarbons are highly soluble in lipid material as present in
the yolky contents of fish eggs. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons can act
both as carcinogens and mutagens. Benzene, the most abundant aromatic com-
pound in crude oil, has been proved mutagenic in a number of published gene-
tic tests on organisms other than fish. Concentration of such hydrocarbons
in the fatty material of spawned eggs may, accordingly, well provoke both
cytotoxicity and mutagenicity to the chromosome apparatus in the critical
early development stages of planktonic or demersal fish eggs. Their absorp-
tion through the membrances of planktonic fish eggs spawned in the vicinity

103

of oil spills could similarly provoke these effects, which would almost
invariably be lethal to the egg. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and less direct
physiological effects on the chromosomes and nuclei of the early-stage eggs
ought to depress the rate of their cell and chromosome divisions.

In light of these findings and in response to the oil spill, an effort
was undertaken to determine the cytogenetic effects of oil on fish eggs.

Microscopic examinations were made of the dissected embryos of 79 cod
eggs and 153 pollock eggs sampled in the vicinity of the Argo Merchant oil
spill. This was done using a new application of cytogenetic methodology to
fixed fish eggs from field plankton samples (Longwell, 1976). Similarly
examined were 75 cod embryos from eggs spawned in an aquarium by a small
number of females captured in the field.

Sample size and station numbers are drastically limiting, and pollock
eggs were not represented in the sub-sample from Station 4. Even so, a
higher mortality of pollock over cod eggs is obvious. Totaled over all
stations, about 20% of the collected cod eggs were dead or cytologically
moribund as compared with 46% of the pollock eggs. For comparison, only 4%
of the sample of cod eggs spawned in the laboratory were dead or moribund
(Table 4-3) . The earlier developmental stages of the cod eggs studied should
have been more sensitive than the pollock eggs because natural mortality
rates are highest in younger embryos. Thus, any real difference between the
viability of cod and pollock eggs may be even greater than the numbers alone
indicate.

At Station 8 the pollock embryos were malformed in 18% of the eggs; at
Station 9, in 9% of the eggs. Pollock eggs at Station 9 carry the strongest
implications for an adverse effect of the oil. Here mortality and moribundity
was 98% for a reasonable sample size (43 eggs) . About 60% of these eggs had
strikingly abnormal cell patterns. The large size of the cells of these
embryos can be interpreted as indicating that the influencing factor acted
much earlier in embryo development than the tail-bud and tail-free stages at
which the abnormal pattern was observed. In these embryos, chromosome and
cell division had almost entirely ceased or was blocked at the prometaphase
division of mitosis (a common action of chemical adversely affecting the
chromosome apparatus) . Almost all the rest of the pollock embryos at this
station were merely degenerating examples of this type of abnormal embryo
(Table 4-4).

Oil adhered to almost all the pollock eggs from Station 9 (Figure 4-7),
and the amount of oil on individual eggs was also greater than at the other
stations. At this same station, fewer cod eggs were contaminated and the
individual eggs were not as heavily contaminated as the pollock eggs. The
reasons for the differential contamination are unclear. The pollock eggs
were at a later developmental stage than the cod eggs and may have been
sampled higher in the water column than the earlier stage cod, thus increas-
ing their chance of being contaminated with oil particles. The fixation of
the eggs may affect the adherence of oil to the egg membranes. The membrane
contamination observed in the fixed eggs is certainly real, however, sug-
gesting the possibility of species differences in membrance fouling. Normal

104

Table 4-3. Cytological assays of mortality and moribundity of
cod and pollock eggs from the vicinity of the oil spill

Total No. No. eggs No. eggs dead % eggs dead % eggs
eggs viable or moribund or moribund malformed

Station 4

Cod

14

Pollock

-

Station 5

Cod

6

Pollock

11

Station 6

Cod

3

Pollock

3

Station 8

Cod

1

Pollock

105

Station 9

13

1
86

3

11

0
19

7.14

50.00
100

0
100

0
17.92

17.92

Cod
Pollock

55

43

43

1

12
42

21.82

97.67

9.30

Laboratory
Spawning Cod

75

72

4.00

Table 4-4. Number of mitotic telophases of all cell division
in pollock embryos at Stations 8 and 9

Telophases (actual number or estimate)

Pollock eggs

3-14

15-25

+50

+75

-100-
+200

Station 8
Station 9

6

35

27
0

28
0

105

POLLOCK EGGS

TAIL- FREE EMBRYO

OIL DROPLETS

ABNORMAL EMBRYO -
PROBABLY ABOUT TAIL-

BUD STAGE WITH
COLLAPSED MEMBRANE

ABNORMAL EMBRYO -
PROBABLY ABOUT TAIL-

OIL DROPLETS

BUD STAGE

NO OIL DROPLETS

TAIL -

BUD EMBRYO

OIL DROPLET

Figure 4-7. Oil droplets adhering to pollock eggs and abnormal pollock
embryos collected in the area of the oil spill. (Photograph
by D. Perry, NEFC, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.)

106

levels of mortalities during egg production in the natural environment are
high. It is difficult to assess the effect of additional mortalities caused
by oil on the cod and pollock in the area of the spill. More observations
will be required to properly evaluate the population impact.

4.1.4 Effects of Oil on Developing Embryos

This section was contributed by W. Kiihnhold, the visiting expert from
the University of Kiel, FRG, at NMFS, NEFC, Narragansett , Rhode Island.
Samples collected on the first cruise of the Delaware II DE 76-13 were used
in these studies.

Laboratory experiments on the effects of No. 6 fuel oil on pelagic eggs
W. Kiihnhold and P. Lef court. These experiments deal with the direct effects
of an oil film on floating eggs and also with the effects of the water solu-
ble fraction of No. 6 oil on developing embryos.

At Station 9, which was located at the periphery of the oil-contaminated
area, it appeared that oil was adhering in significantly greater quantities
to pollock eggs than to cod eggs in neuston samples. To determine whether
there were differences in surface membrance characteristics of the eggs that
could result in differential adherence to the oil, experiments involving the
exposure of pelagic eggs to an oil film were initiated jointly at the North-
east Fisheries Center's Narragansett Laboratory and the EPA Laboratory,
Narragansett, by E. Jackim and R. Pruell. In these experiments, cod eggs
were kept floating under an oil film, which was then stirred both gently and
vigorously to mix the eggs with the oil. In no case was there any sign of
oil adhering to the living eggs. The same results have been reported for cod
eggs by James (1925) and by Kiihnhold (1972) in tests with crude oil of a
similar visocisty. So far, only cod eggs have been available for this test.
The NMFS Narragansett Laboratory plans to expand this study to include pela-
gic eggs of several species, especially pollock, in order to determine
whether there are differences in surface responses of fish egg membranes to
oil among important fish species.

The experiments to determine the effect of the water-soluble fraction
(WSF) of No. 6 oil conducted in cooperation with D. Everich of EPA have not
been completed, and only preliminary results are available. These experi-
ments are carried out as static tests to approximate conditions of an acute
spill situation where a body of water may be covered with an oil slick for a
short time only. The dissolved compounds are then subject to evaporation.
The extraction of No. 6 fuel oil was prepared according to Hyland (1973) to
provide concentrations of WSF comparable to earlier studies. Since no data
were available about actual concentrations of WSF of the Argo Merchant oil
at the spill site, initial concentrations of 500, 100, and 10 parts per
billion (ppb) of total extractable hydrocarbons, WSF, were used. The loss of
hydrocarbons during the course of the tests appears to be low, less than 50%
in 10 days. Cod eggs were exposed at three different embryonic stages: 4 to
6 hours (2-cell stage), and 3- and 7-day old embryos.

High mortality was evident in the youngest embryo group at the highest
concentration (500 ppb) after 24 hours. It was observed that the eggs held

107

at 500 ppb sink to the bottom of the test jars prior to dying. This phenom-
enon is due to loss of osmoregulation in the embryonic organism. Some eggs
may actually sink to the bottom several days before dying. It was also
observed that the development was greatly delayed in the higher concentra-
tions, and that the heart beat was greatly reduced. From the beginning of
regular heart muscle contractions to hatching, the frequency normally in-
creased from about 30 to 70 beats per minute in untreated eggs, while the
treated eggs showed a decrease in frequency of heart beat to less than 20
beats per minute with very irregular muscle contractions. Anderson et al.
(1976) have indicated that the heart beat rate can also serve as a sensitive
indicator for sublethal effects. This was evident in the eggs exposed to the
intermediate concentration (100 ppb) , which in some cases showed no sign of
developmental delay or abnormalities, but did have reduced heart beats. Ten
ppb does not appear to increase embryo mortality or alter hatching rates.

Further evaluation of the data should clarify the relationship between
hatching and survival rates of larvae and embryonic heart beat frequency.

4.1.5 Food Habits

This section was contributed by R. Langton and R. Bowman of NMFS, NEFC,
Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and is based on samples collected from both
Delaware II cruises (DE 76-13 and DE 77-01).

Stomachs were collected from fish caught with an otter trawl during the
Delaware II cruises 76-13 and 77-01 (Figure 4-8; Table 4-5 and Table VII-17
in Appendix VII). The fish stomachs were excised aboard the ship, labeled
according to species, length, and station, and preserved in 10% formalin. A
total of 305 stomachs were collected from the 16 different species of fish.

At the NEFC laboratory, Woods Hole, the preserved stomachs were opened
and the contents washed onto a 0.25-millimeter mesh screen. The various food
organisms were manually sorted, identified to the lowest taxa possible (with
a dissecting microscope when necessary), and damp-dried on bibulous paper.
Each taxonomically distinct group was weighed to the nearest 0.01 gram on a
Mettler balance immediately after being dried. Parasites in the stomach were
included as part of the stomach contents. Food items of little dietary
significance or those that were unidentifiable because of the degree of
digestion were classified as miscellaneous.

For the purpose of analysis all information was pooled by species,
regardless of size, for comparison with existing food habits data. Data for
each predator are presented as a percentage of the total stomach contents
weight and as mean weight per stomach. The mean weight per stomach was
calculated by dividing the total stomach contents weight by the total number
of stomachs examined.

The food habits of six species of fish were investigated following the
first Delaware II cruise, DE 76-13, and are summarized in Table VII-18 in
Appendix VII. The same six species plus an additional 10 were sampled during
the second Delaware II cruise, DE 77-01 (Table VII-19 in Appendix VII). The
food habits of the six co-occurring species were generally similar between

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cruises. However, it is difficult to evaluate any differences observed
because of the relatively small number of fish collected. For example, the
winter skate collected on the first cruise (76-13) consumed a greater per-
centage of fish (50.3% vs 12.9%), while more polychaetes (60.7% vs. 21.8%)
had been eaten by the fish collected during the second cruise. The sample
size was small, two and seven fish for the first and second cruise respec-
tively, and therefore these differences may only reflect sampling variance.
The small sample size also makes it difficult to accurately assess the dif-
ferences in food habits between the windowpane and the ocean pout for the two
cruises. The Atlantic cod also differed in its food habits, but in this case
the sampling size was larger: 26 for cruise 76-13 and 39 for cruise 77-01.
The cod collected during cruise 76-13 ate more Crustacea (62.0% vs. 38.7%),
while the amount of fish in the diet decreased (26.5% vs. 53.3%). The most
striking difference was in the quantity of food consumed. The mean weight
per stomach was 3.90 grams for the 76-13 cruise and 19.37 grams for the 77-01
cruise. The length range of the fish sampled on both cruises overlapped (35
to 86 centimeters vs. 33 to 100 centimeters) , but the average length of the
fish was slightly larger (44 vs. 57 centimeters) for the 77-01 cruise.
Little skate were also sampled in relatively large numbers during both
cruises (Tables 4-5 and Table VII-17 in Appendix VII). Again there were some
differences in the food habits, but in both cases the major food items were
crustaceans (84.2% and 48.1%). The mean weight per stomach was also similar,
although there was a difference in the length range of the fish examined
(Tables VII-18 and VII-19 in Appendix VII).

In the discussion that follows the stomach samples of each predator
species are considered based on data from both cruises. The major dietary
components of each fish within a designated category, determined phyletically ,
are described.

The first group, the Chondrichthyes, is comprised of the spiny dogfish,
Squalus acanthias; winter skate, Raja ocellata; thorny skate, Raja radiata;
and little skate, Raja erinacea. Over 95% of the diet of the dogfish was
fish. The major prey items of the winter skate were polychaete worms (21.8%
and 60.7%) and the sand launce, Ammodytes americanus (50.3% and 3.0%). The
stomach contents of the thorny skate were composed of a high percentage of
fish (43.4%) and polychaete worms (29.5%). The little skate primarily con-
sumed crustaceans (84.2% and 48.1%), in particular gammarid amphipods (63.8%
and 28.0%). In one sample from cruise 77-01, Station 36, consisting of the
stomach contents from, three male little skate ranging in length from 45 to 49
centimeters, an oil-like material was found on one caprellid amphipod.

The gadids included red hake, Urophycis chuss ; haddock, Melanogrammus
aeglef inus; pollock, Pollachius virens; ocean pout, Macrozoarces americanus;
and Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. The red hake diet consisted primarily of mud
crabs (Axius serratus) and rock crabs (Cancer) , which made up over 50% of the
crustaceans (81.1%) eaten. Haddock consumed polychaete worms (24.2%) and
ceriantharian anemones (59.5%). The major component of the stomach contents
of the pollock was the sand launce, Ammodytes americanus (69.8%), while the
prey of the ocean pout was primarily sand dollars, Echinarachnius parma
(47.7%). The cod preyed on a variety of Crustacea (62.0% and 38.7%), rock

111

crabs, Cancer irroratus and C_. borealis; caridean shrimp, Crangon septem-
spinosa and Dichelopandalus leptocerus ; the hermit crab, Pagurus acadianus;
gammarid amphipod, Gammarus annulatus; and the isopod, Cirolina polita. The
sand launce, A. americanus was the major species of fish identified in the
cod stomachs (25.7% and 20.8%). In two samples from cruise 77-01, Station
29, an oily material was found mixed in with the stomach contents. In the
first sample of nine fish, ranging in length from 41 to 45 centimeters, the
oily substance was found in one stomach of the gammarid amphipod, Gammarus
annulatus. In the second sample of six fish, ranging in length from 49 to 87
centimeters, the oily material was found on the gammarid amphipod, Anonyx
sarsi.

The stomach contents of four species of Pleuronectiformes (flatfish)
were examined: the American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides ; winter
flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus; windowpane, Scophthalmus aquosus;
and yellowtail, Limanda f erruginea. Over 90% of the diet of the American
plaice consisted of polychaete worms of the family Aphroditidae. The five
winter flounder stomachs examined were empty. The windowpane was collected
on both cruises and in each case crustaceans were the major prey item, being
either primarily gammarid amphipod (90.2%) on cruise 76-13 or the caridean
shrimp, Crangon septemspinosa (41.6%) on cruise 77-01. The stomach contents
of the yellowtail were also comprised of a high percentage of Crustacea with
the major prey item being C^. septemspinosa (60.8%). Alewives, Alosa pseudo-
harengus , the only clupeid examined, fed almost exclusively on gammarid
amphipods (96.4%) of the genus Gammarus.

The last group of fish examined were the cottids: the sea raven, Hemi-
tripterus americanus , and the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus .
The sea raven ate fish almost exclusively (99.3%). Over 98% of the stomach
contents of the longhorn sculpin were decapod crustaceans, with the major
prey item being the pandalid shrimp, Dichelopandalus leptocherus (65.6%).

The food habits of the 16 fish examined in this survey differ little
from data previously collected on the food habits of the same species (Maurer
and Bowman, 1975; Bowman, 1975; Bowman et al . , 1976). Only the data col-
lected on the American plaice and haddock appear to differ in terms of the
major prey item categories.

The stomach contents of the American plaice consisted almost exclusively
of polychaete worms. However, only five fish were examined, of which three
had empty stomachs and one of the two remaining had eaten polychaetes. In a
larger sample of fish from southern New England and Georges Bank, Bowman et
al. (1976) have shown that the major food items are usually crustaceans or
echinoderms. Annelids are also a smaller part of the diet of these fish,
especially in southern New England, and it is likely that a larger sample
would have reduced the apparent significance of polychaetes in the diet of
American plaice.

In the Georges Bank area haddock have generally been found to eat crusta-
ceans, molluscs, echinoderms, annelids, and fish (Wigley, 1956; Wigley and
Theroux, 1965) . The occurrence of large quantities of coelenterates in the
diet, as reported here, is apparently rare. The stomach contents of 21

112

haddock, collected from three stations, were examined. The coelenterates
occurred in the stomachs of the fish at only one station and probably reflect
a local abundance of this prey item.

The impact of the oil spill on the food habits of various species of
groundfish was assessed by surveying the stomach contents. Of the 305 fish
stomachs examined, three samples, representing the stomach contents of two
species of fish, contained an oil-like material. In two different samples of
Atlantic cod collected at Station 29, 25 to 30 miles southwest of the wreck
site, oily gammarid amphipods comprised part of the stomach contents. At
Station 36 a sample of the stomach contents collected from little skate con-
tained an oily caprellid amphipod. Since 1963 more than 38,000 stomachs,
representing 82 species of fish, have been analyzed at the Northeast Fish-
eries Center and no oil-like materials have previously been reported. Since
1969, a total of 393 little skate and 1706 cod have been examined as part of
the routine assessment of fish food habits and, again, no oil-like materials
have been identified in the stomach contents (Maurer and Bowman, 1975).

4.1.6 Physiological Effects of Pollutant Stress

This section was contributed by D. Gould and F. Thurberg of NMFS, NEFC,
Milford, Connecticut, and are based on samples collected during the second
Delaware II cruise (DE 77-01).

Two sets of samples of shellfish and fish collected from Argo Merchant
oil spill area and an adjacent clean area {Delaware II cruise 77-01) were
examined in the laboratory for physiological disruption. Gill-tissue oxygen
consumption rates were measured on ocean scallops (Placopecten magellanicus)
and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus) from both impacted and control areas.
Blood samples from six different species of finfish from both impacted and
clean areas were also taken on board the research vessel and returned to the
laboratory for hematological analysis. Although the samples in both studies
are too small for adequate statistical analysis, the results indicate that
both hematology measurements and respiration rates were altered in samples
taken from the contaminated areas. Hematological measures showed a disrup-
tion of the ionic balance in blood serum and depressed respiration rates (O2
consumption) . The ionic balance of blood serum from winter and yellow-tail
flounder caught within the oil spill area was ^disrupted, and the physiolo-
gical condition was poorer than that of fish examined from the control area
outside the spill. Both measures are useful indicators of disruption of
physiological activity possibly caused by the oil spill, and this line of
study will be pursued.

Samples from clean areas were taken during the same cruise of brain,
kidney, and gonads from 26 teleosts (6 species), and of mantle or hepato-
pancreas, gills, and gonads from 28 bivalves and crustaceans for biochemical
examination. Similar tissues were taken from 24 teleosts and 43 molluscs
from oil-impacted areas. To perform exploratory biochemistry on this number
of samples of different tissues from different species will take several
months. Attempts will be made to search for a possible shift from aerobic to
anaerobic metabolism, as well as for induction or repression of enzymes, to

113

serve as metabolic yardsticks that will be both analytically feasible and
environmentally significant.

4.1.7 Biological Samples for Hydrocarbon Analysis

The first of two groups of samples were sent to the NOAA National
Analytical Facility in Seattle, Washington, for detailed hydrocarbon anal-
ysis. The fish and invertebrate species selected for analyses are listed in
Table VII-20 in Appendix VII. In addition, the stomach contents of one cod
suspected of containing oil were sent.

4.1.8 Phytoplankton Studies

Two phytoplankton tows were conducted by S. French, URI , aboard the
Endeavor Cruise EN-002. He obtained material from a "clean" area (Station 1)
and from a "contaminated" area (Station 2). Since tows are not quantitative,
he and P. Hargraves were only able to compare the species composition of
large diatoms and dinof lagellates. There was no obvious difference between
the two areas. Both were very abundant in Coscinodiscus species, Thalassio-
nema species, Ceratium species, and the tintinnid Stenosemella. Station 2
had small oil droplets in low numbers. There was considerable similarity in
species composition with a tow taken in the same area during a previous
cruise of the Endeavor in early November. On the basis of these two samples,
there was no obvious response of phytoplankton to the oil spill. These data
are far from conclusive, and future efforts will include quantitative sampl-
ing of phytoplankton, estimates of productivity rates, and examination of
benthic microbiota.

4.2 Seabird Observations

Observations of seabirds were made both as a part of routine, ongoing
activities and in response to the Argo Merchant oil spill. The Manomet Bird
Observatory (MBO) , Manomet, Massachusetts, has been conducting routine
studies in the Nantucket and Georges Banks areas since February 1976 by
having observers aboard USCG patrol vessels as well as other ships. Most of
this effort is supported by private donations and foundation grants, but part
of the funding for 1976 was supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USF&WS). Other seabird observations were also made on all the research
cruises conducted in connection with the spill, and the State of Massachu-
setts instituted a special seabird collection and clean-up effort.

4.2.1 Manomet Bird Observatory Report

L. Loughlin of MBO was fortuitously stationed aboard the USCGC Vigilant
when the vessel was in the vicinity of the grounded tanker. His observations
were funded partly by USF&WS and partly by private donations to MBO. The
following is extracted from his report, dated January 3, 1977.

"The vessel usually stayed within 3 miles of the tanker, often much
closer. Bird density in the area was generally low, probably due to the lack
of fishing activity. The dominant species were Herring Gulls, Great Black-

114

backed Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Juvenile Herring and Black-backed
Gulls outnumbered adults about three to one while most of the Kittiwakes seen
were adults. Gannets, again mostly adults, were seen regularly in small
numbers. Seen occasionally were Fulmars and Alcids, usually Thick-billed
Murres. Table 4-6 gives a daily summary of seabird numbers. Since birds
seemed to remain in the area throughout an entire day (many individuals could
be recognized by oil patches) census was only taken during the morning hours,
while general observations were made in the afternoon. Due to the ship's
relatively stationary position and the possibility of birds staying in the
vicinity for several days, cruise totals for each species are not given.

"Hardest hit by the oil slick were Herring and Black-backed Gulls.
Shortly after oil began to flow from the tanker, birds were seen with small
patches on breast and abdomen. Later birds were found with underparts and
heads heavily stained (Photograph 47, Appendix III). Late in the patrol,
badly oiled gulls, appearing to be weakened, began to land on the Vigilant,
some accepting food by hand.

"In contrast, Kittiwakes seemed to be affected less by the oil. Few of
these birds were seen with oil stains in the early days of the spill and,
although the number of oiled birds increased later on, the percentage was
much lower than those of Herring Gulls and Black-backs and no badly oiled
Kittiwakes were ever observed. This lesser degree of oiling is perhaps
reflected in the Kittiwakes' feeding behavior. On several occasions indi-
viduals were observed picking objects off the surface of the water with no
more than the bill touching. They were never seen feeding in oiled water.

"A few of the Gannets seen were heavily oiled while most seemed to be
clean. None of the Fulmars or Murres in the area appeared to be oiled al-
though oiled Murres were reported washing ashore and were therefore obviously
affected. Three inshore ducks were sighted and, although their degree of
oiling could not be determined, their presence indicates that coastal water-
fowl do occasionally wander far from shore and may therefore be threatened by
offshore as well as inshore oil spillage.

"Considering the low density of birds in the immediate vicinity of the
grounded tanker it would at first appear that damage inflicted by the escap-
ing oil was not very severe. However, oiled birds have been washing ashore
daily at Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, most of these being Murres. This
indicates that oil is affecting birds away from the initial site of spilling.
On-site oiling and birds stranded on beaches may yet represent only a frac-
tion of the potential devastation. At this time we have no indication as to
the amount of damage done 100 or 200 miles "downstream" from the tanker.
Contaminated birds driven to the southeast by wind and current will go unde-
tected. Ideally an intensive survey of the birdlife should be made immedi-
ately in waters in advance of the oil slick. Such a cruise is at present
difficult to arrange. Fortunately, we do have some data on species abundance
and distribution in the region during the winter months (see MBO Seabird
Report No. 1) and with these we can speculate on the possible remote effects
of oil on birds.

115

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"As mentioned earlier, the dominant species in the spill area were Her-
ring, Black-backed Gulls, and Kittiwakes. These species were also found to
be dominant throughout the Georges Bank-Nantucket Shoals region in February
and March although in greater numbers and density. If this is a typical
winter pattern of abundance, then large numbers of each of these species are
potentially endangered by the oil as it spreads out and moves eastward. A
factor which may prevent a large-scale decimation of the gull population is
their habit of concentrating in the vicinity of fishing vessels. Since the
Coast Guard reported few fishing boats on Georges Bank during December, it is
possible that the birds were not hit as hard as might be predicted. However,
the frequency of oiled bird sightings on land shortly after the spill indi-
cates a probable high degree of oil contamination at sea. Gannets appear to
spend as much time on the water as Herring and Black-backed Gulls and are
therefore probably equally susceptible to contact with oil.

"Also seen in smaller numbers were Fulmars and Alcids. Previous cruises
show that these two groups winter on the offshore banks. Like gulls, Fulmars
have a tendency to follow boats, especially fishing vessels. However, they
spend far more time airborne than gulls and might therefore receive less
contact with surface oil, minimizing contamination. Alcids, on the other
hand, spend almost all of their time on the ocean's surface and are therefore
the most susceptible of all the pelagic birds to oil contamination. They are
not ship followers and, at present, knowledge of their winter distribution in
offshore waters is quite patchy. However, observations from shore during the
month of December indicate that there is probably a large number of Alcids
off the Massachusetts coast this winter. Several flocks of over a thousand
Thick-billed Murres and other Alcids have been sighted off Cape Code.
Following the spill, Murres were the most common oiled birds washing ashore
on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and, since they tend to be found in
flocks, it is quite possible that these may have been hit hard by oil con-
tamination, although this will probably never be known for certain."

"Lacking sufficient field data this is merely speculation. Yet, based
on information at hand it is probably safe to assume that the Argo Merchant
disaster will be far-reaching in its effects on pelagic bird life and that
most of these effects will go undetected. It is therefore recommended that,
until such catastrophes can be prevented, a program whereby the extent of
contamination from spilled oil on remote sea birds can be assessed be devel-
oped as soon as possible."

4.2.2 Ship Cruise and Overflight Reports

Reports are available from five research cruises that carried trained
observers: The Oaeanus (December 20-21, 28-29, 1976, J. Milliman) , the
Delaware II (December 22-24, 1976, P. Gibb) , Stone Horse (January 5, 1977, T.
Lloyd-Evans), and the Endeavor (January 27-29, 1976, L. Gould and N. Hough-
ton). All observers reported that 25 to 75% of the birds seen were fouled,
mostly on the breast and abdomen. Herring Gulls and Black-backed Gulls
appeared to be the hardest hit, and many boats in the area reported heavily
oiled gulls landing on their boats. These birds were often weak and unchar-
ac teristically tame, some accepting food by hand. Other birds seen in the
area were Kittiwakes, Gannets, and Murres, but few of these birds were

117

heavily oiled. USCG overflights, generally at an altitude of 500 feet, have
not proven successful in bird observations although a single dead gull was
seen in the center of a large oil pancake on Christmas Day.

4.2.3 Shore-Based Cleanup Efforts

In general, the density of birds in the immediate vicinity of the
spilled oil was low, making it appear that little damage had been inflicted
on the bird population. However, a number of birds have been washing ashore
regularly on Nantucket and Cape Cod. Approximately 160 birds have been taken
to date. This number is not indicative, however, of the true number of birds
that washed ashore because of scarcity of beach patrols and the difficulties
encountered due to icy conditions, especially on Nantucket. The State of
Massachusetts, funded by the Federal On-Scene Coordinator Staff (OCS) ,
instituted a bird collection and cleanup effort coordinated by J. Cardozo,
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Of the 160 birds taken, 24
were released on January 21, and one remains alive in captivity. All dead
birds are being stored at the Sandwich Fish Hatchery, Sandwich, Massachu-
setts, awaiting autopsy. Live birds collected on Nantucket were taken to
Felix Neck Audubon Sanctuary, where heated facilities were available for
rehabilitation work. Of the 91 birds brought to Felix Neck, 44 were either
dead on arrival or put to sleep immediately, 22 died in rehabilitation, and
15 Murres and 8 Auks were released. One Kittiwake still remains in captiv-
ity. Murres are the most common species washing ashore, although few were
seen in the area of the Argo Merchant. This seems to indicate that many
birds are being affected by the oil outside the immediate spill area. Gulls
on the other hand, have been seen in the spill area, yet few have washed up
on shore (Table VII-21 in Appendix VII) . Evidence seems to indicate that
gulls are able to withstand much heavier fouling than other bird species.
This may be because they have a more readily available food source than other
birds, i.e., dumps, which may compensate for the increase in metabolism due
to the loss of heat. Birds oiled as a result of the Argo Merchant spill have
washed ashore as far away as Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. E. Leavey of the Bedford
Institute in Dartmouth reported 10 birds of various species having washed
ashore in the last 2 weeks. Using gas chromatography techniques, he was
able to trace two oiled Black-backed Gulls to the Argo Merchant spill.

Assessment of impact of the spill on pelagic bird species will be par-
ticularly difficult because of the lack of baseline population studies.
Over the last year the Manomet Bird Observatory has begun these studies, and
the data collected seem to indicate that this year was exceptional in terms
of the number of Alcids (Murres, Auks, Dovekies) present along the Massachu-
setts coast. The behavioral patterns of these birds make them the most
likely species to be hardest hit by the spill. This is borne out in part
by the numbers of Murres washing ashore compared with other species. The
impact on gull populations may be more easily assessed, because breeding
colonies have been censused and population densities are generally known.
A plan for a long-term impact study is now being drawn up by NOAA's Marine
Ecosystems Analysis Program Office (MESA) , and a report is expected by
April 15, 1977.

118

4.3 Observations of Marine Mammals

Coordination of marine mammal observations in the area of the Argo
Merchant spill began on December 28 as part of the SOR Team research effort
with the arrival of B. Baxten from the College of the Atlantic. Provisions
were made to carry a trained marine mammal observer on all USCG overflights
during the study period, with the goal of establishing species composition,
approximate population sizes, and impact, if any, of the oil spill on these
populations. Observations were made through January 13, 197 7. Although the
opportunity did not arise, provisions were made for behavioral studies in the
event of direct contact by any marine mammal with a cohesive oil mass.

Since the Argo Merchant spill, 43 separate aerial sightings of cetaceans
have been made in adjacent areas (Table VII-22 in Appendix VII) . The total
count of sightings stands at 2 unidentified rorquals, 21 finbacks (Balaenop-
tera physalus) , 7 white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhychus acutus) , 13-15 pilot
whales (Globicephala malaena) , and possibly one grey seal. These limited
data showed no bias in the distribution of these animals in relation to the
oil. Locations of the sightings are indicated on the daily oil slick maps
contained in Appendix IV. Whales were observed within an area of heavy oil
concentration on only one occasion, at 1401, December 31. These two finbacks
gave no evidence of panic and were not in direct contact with the oil pan-
cakes. No marine mammal was seen in obvious distress or in direct physical
contact with oil pancakes or sheen.

No marine mammals were sighted during the December 20 and December 28
research cruises by the WHOI vessel Oceanus , nor during the on-scene opera-
tions of the USCGC's Bittersweet and White foot . Three possible finback
sightings were reported by J. Loughlin of the Manomet Bird Observatory from
the USCGC Vigilant in the immediate area of the Argo Merchant during the
period of heaviest spillage (Table VII-22 in Appendix VII). J. Nicholas of
the National Marine Fisheries Service coordinated a marine mammal observa-
tions program aboard the second Delaware II cruise (DE 77-01) from January 4
to 12. No marine mammals were sighted.

H. Winn coordinated an effort of aerial surveys on December 20 and 22,
1976, to locate marine mammals. Two overflights were made, funded by the
Marine Mammals Commission (MM-7A D-032) . One 0grey seal may have been spotted
on Muskeget Island on December 20.

4.4 Littoral Zone and Near-Coastal Zone Survey

On Monday, December 27, personnel from MESA, NOAA, assembled a team of
intertidal biologists and chemists on Nantucket Island to develop a baseline
sampling plan for exposed beaches and inlets of the island that would be
vunerable to impact if the spilled oil should come ashore. Members of the
team included scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the
Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, the University of Massachusetts,
Northeastern University, and the Energy Resources Company. On Tuesday,
December 28, the team went into the field to obtain samples at four loca-
lities around the island: two beach sites, a salt marsh site, and an inner

119

bay site. Sediment and biota samples were obtained along the beaches and
salt marsh for subsequent evaluation of hydrocarbon content, intersitial
fauna, macrof auna, microbial counts and activity, and detrial strand line
material. Due to adverse weather, only limited samples could be obtained in
Nantucket harbor. Water samples for hydrocarbon analysis were obtained at
the salt marsh site.

Appendix V contains a report of the survey, in which samples were ana-
lyzed for microbial organisms, chlorophyll, and preliminary identification of
living microfauna and macrof auna. The samples were properly preserved for
further analysis in the event the oil came ashore. It is unclear at this
time if such analyses will be conducted; however, the samples are available
as required for comparison with future samples to determine long-term changes
on the Nantucket becahes.

The U.S. Geological Survey, under the direction of David Schultz, ob-
tained intertidal samples from Nantucket Island, Ester Island, Tuckernuck
Island, Monomoy Island, and Cape Cod. A total of 53 intertidal samples were
collected for hydrocarbon analyses, particle size distributions, species
identification, and bacteriological studies. All samples are at the Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution.

4.5 Preliminary Surveys of Impact on Fishing Activities

Within the short time available, it has not been possible to properly
determine the impact of the Argo Merchant oil spill on the local fishing ac-
tivities, because the effects of the spill may be long-term in nature and
cannot be quickly assessed. For example, during the spring spawning season,
the larval fry of most fish species spend several days or weeks drifting in
the midwater or surface water columns. The spilled oil that entered the
water column may have destroyed part of the 1977 year-class of some fish
stocks during the two weeks that surface oil covered spawning areas. The
results of this destruction of eggs and larvae on stock abundance and poten-
tial yields cannot be determined at this time. While it is recognized that
finfish can avoid oil-contaminated waters, the effects of oil on spawning
bottom, in terms of altered adult behavior, are not known. No hydrocarbons
attributable to the Argo Merchant have been detected in the bottom sediments
except for those found in the immediate vicinity of the sunken bow section
(41° 01.4'N, 69° 26.5'W) on February 11, 1977. The effects of this spill
upon industry markets and prices are unknown; if, for example, the spill does
not reduce the quality of the landings, but the general consensus ashore is
that if the landings are contaminated fish prices may be depressed.

Members of the fishing industry believe that the oil in the water column
may remain over Georges Bank for the following reason: the area is extremely
productive, largely because nutrients are recycled by the currents rather
than being swept offshore into the deep water where they would sink from the
zone of light and be lost. The currents over the Bank tend to hold material
over the area for long periods, recycling it fully to the benefit of marine
species. Oil injected into this circulation may thus remain for some time.

120

However, as the oil concentrations in the water column quickly dropped to
essentially background levels, this concern seems unfounded.

In light of these considerations, two separate but related activities
are underway to assess the impact of the spill on the local fishing activ-
ities. The first is a survey being conducted by the fishermen themselves;
the second is documentation of the impact by the port agents of NOAA's Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service. Both of these studies are just beginning,
and no conclusions have yet been drawn.

4.5.1 Fishermen's Survey

In order to assess the effects of oil on the fishing grounds, the Cape
Cod Commercial Fishermen's Coalition has developed a short, one-page form
that can be filled out by vessel operators when they are fishing offshore
(Figure 4-9) . Although the data developed will be rough, nonscientif ic in a
traditional sense, and limited to areas where fish are sought, the informa-
tion should over a time of several weeks apply to all of Georges Bank and the
surrounding waters. The form is kept simple in order to respect the compet-
ing time demands upon the fishermen; it merely requests information on loca-
tion, type of fishery, time of day, date, tide, and weather conditions, and
any comments concerning evidence, or lack of evidence, of oil.

The form is currently being distributed to fishermen in Gloucester,
Boston, New Bedford, Point Judith, Cape Cod, and elsewhere along the coasts
of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. At the moment the following groups are
participating and coordinating this effort: The Cape Cod Commercial Fisher-
men's Coalition, the Massachusetts Inshore Draggers Association, the Atlantic
Offshore Fish and Lobster Association, the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives
Association, and the New England Marine Industries Council. The forms are
being collected by these groups and held, pending choice of agencies and
organizations likely to be interested in the data.

The action being taken by the fishermen is at their own initiative and
at their own cost, and represents in some degree the interest expressed in
assisting others in the research effort. The information obtained with the
forms will require initial evaluation and interpretation by the fishermen,
but will represent an enormous amount of raw data that must eventually be
coordinated and incorporated with other research efforts. Successful and
widespread use of these data will go far toward development of a widespread
and common data base that will be useful both to operating fishermen and,
eventually, to those involved in environmental assessment. New stock
assessments may be required, a critical need given imminent extension of
jurisdiction on March 1, 1977. Interpretation and summary of the data will
require the expertise of individuals most familiar with the fisheries in
question, and of fishing vessel operators. Two joint seminars are to be held
in February and March 197 7 by fishermen and scientists to further refine the
results in terms of common understanding and future research programs. At the
time of writing, few forms have been returned and analysis has not begun.

121

OIL SPILL EFFECTS FORM : Tack this to the chart table if you can- space here for four entries

These forms are being given to vessel operators from Gloucester to Rhode Island. Take them
with you when fishing and fill them out as you see fit. If you make an area with no sign
of oil at all, write that information down and return these forms once a week to your
participating group (see below). It is IMPORTANT to indicate a lack of oil just as it is
to indicate oil spill evidence. Only through these forms can fishermen and others know
in a hurry where the oil is on Georges Bank and surrounding waters. We shall run this
program eight weeks - that means eight forms at one a week but hopefully more if there
are effects - for example, you may have a form filled out as a result of one tow.
Please indicate whether this form refers to TRIP, DAY FISHED, TOW, or other.

LOCATION
(Lpran, area)

DATE/TIME OF DAY

TIDE CONDITION

WEATHER: State here
briefly the wind,
seas, etc.

TYPE FISHERY
(for example, fin-
fish dragging

ENTRY REFERS TO:
TRIP, DAY FISHED,
TOW, ETC.

COMMENTS:

Evidence of slick,
clumps. State color,
thickness, area
covered

Dead or covered
birds. Type if
you can

Fouled gear

Fouled Bottom

Changes in expected
catch

Changes in fish
behavior

No effects seen
this day/trip/tow

Anything else

Figure 4-9. Form for fishermen's survey.

122

4.5.2 NMFS Ports Agents Report

In the NMFS Northeast Region those who are in daily contact with the
commercial fishing industry are assessing and documenting the impact of the
Avgo Merchant oil spill on the day-to-day activities of the commercial
fishermen through a series of weekly reports to the regional director.

In New England approximately 900 direct interviews were conducted during
a total of 4000 fishing trips between December 21 and January 30, at the
ports of Portland, Rockland, Gloucester, Boston, and New Bedford, Massachu-
setts; and Newport and Point Judith, Rhode Island. Only 26 of the interviews
indicated an impact of the spilled oil. Five reports indicated direct loss
of catch or fouling or loss of gear, while the other 21 reported "oily"
birds. All of these incidents occurred in the area to the southeast of the
site of the Argo Merchant and were reported by a single division of the NMFS
Northeast Region.

The following specific problems were reported:

1. A scalloper, fishing very near the wreck area, had his catch and
gear fouled by an oil slick; the catch from that tow was discarded
as unmarketable.

2. Captains of two vessels, fishing American lobster on the edge of
the Continental Shelf, believe that oil fouling of inflatable buoys
caused a deterioration of air valves, resulting in a loss of these
buoys and consequently the gear they marked. The crew's clothing
became fouled during handling of the gear. One lobster fishing
vessel had its gear net in the immediate area of the oil drift and,
as a result, had to change over the water circulation system from a
continuous to a closed one, i.e., instead of taking in water from
the area of the oil drift and and contaminating the catch, water
from a clean area was used and circulated within the vessel's
holding system.

3. Two vessels fishing lobster reported fouled pots, gear, and cloth-
ing. Caution had to be taken in removing the lobsters from the
contaminated gear.

Other divisions of the Northeast Region filed negative reports.

The collection of data on the oil spill and its effects is, and will be,
an ongoing program for all NMFS field employees in the region.

123

References

Anderson, J. W. , D. B. Dixit, G. S. Ward, and R. S. Foster. 1976. Effects
of petroleum hydrocarbons on the rate of heartbeat and hatching success of
estuarine fish embryos. (F. J. and W. B. Vernberg, eds.) Pollution and
Physiology of Marine Organisms, II. Academic Press.

Bowman, R. E., 1975. Food habits of Atlantic cod, haddock and silver hake in
the Northwest Atlantic, 1969-1972. Data Report #75-1. Northeast Fisheries

Center, NMFS.

Bowman, R. E. , R. 0. Maurer, and J. A. Murphy. 1976. Stomach contents of
twenty-nine fish species from five regions in the Northwest Atlantic.
Data Report //76-10. Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS.

Clarke, G. L. , E. L. Pierce, and D. F. Bumpus . 1943. The distribution and
reproduction of Sagitta elegans on Georges Bank in relation to hydro-
graphical conditions. Biol. Bull., Vol. 85, No. 3, pp. 201-226.

Colton, J. B., and R. R. Stoddard. 1972. Average Monthly Sea-Water Tempera-
tures Nova Scotia to Long Island, 1940-1959. Serial Atlas of the Marine
Environment, Folio 21, Amer. Geogr. Soc, New York.

Hyland , J. L. 1973. Acute toxicity of No. 6 fuel oil to intertidal organisms
in the lower York River, Virginia. M.S. Thesis. College of William and
Mary (VIMS). 75 pp.

James, M. C. 1925. Preliminary investigations on effects of oil pollution on
marine pelagic eggs. Report of the United States Bureau of Fisheries,
April 1925, App. 6, 85-92. Report to the Secretary of State by the U.S.
Interdepartmental Committee on Oil Pollution of Navigable Waters, 1926.

Jeffries, H. P., and W. C. Johnson II. 1975. Petroleum, temperature, and
toxicants: examples of suspected responses by plankton and benthos on the
Continental Shelf. In: Effects of energy-related activities on the
Continental Shelf (Bernard Manowitz, ed) . pp. 96-108.

Kuhnhold, W. W. 1969. The influence of watersoluble constituents of crude
oils and crude oil fractions on the ontogenetic development of herring fry.
Ber. der Deut . Wiss Komm. fur Meeresf orsch. , Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 165-171.

Kuhnhold, W. W. 1972. Untersuchungen liber die ToxizitMt von Roholextrakter
und emulsionen auf Eier und Larven von Dorsch und Hering. (Investigations
on the toxicity of crude oil extracts and dispersions on eggs and larvae of
cod and herring). Ph.D. Thesis. University of Kiel, FRG.

Kuhnhold, W. W. 1974. Investigations on the toxicity of seawater-extracts of
three crude oils on eggs of cod (Gadus morhus L.), Ber. der Deut. Wiss.
Komm. fur Meeresforsch. , Vol. 23, pp. 165-180.

124

Longwell, A. C. 1976. Chromosome mutagenesis in developing mackerel eggs
sampled from the New York Bight. MESA-7 , April. 61 pp.

Maurer, R. 0., and R. E. Bowman. 1975. Food habits of marine fishes of the
Northwest Atlantic. Data Report #75-3, Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS.

Mironov, 0. G. 1969a. The effect of oil pollution upon some representatives
of the Black Sea zooplankton. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal , Vol. 48, No. 7,
pp. 980-984. (English Translation) .

Mironov, 0. G. 1969b. Viability of larvae of some crustaces in sea water
polluted with oil-products. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 48, No. 11,
pp. 1734-1737.

Parker, C. A., M. Freegarde, and C. G. Hatchard. 1970. The effect of some
chemical and biological factors on the degradation of crude oil at sea.
Seminars on Water Pollution by Oil. Aviemore/Scott 4-8.5.70, paper 17.

Wigley, R. L. 1956. Food habits of Georges Bank Haddock. Special
Scientific Report — Fisheries #165.

Wigley, R. L. , and R. B. Theroux. 1965. Seasonal food habits of highlands
ground haddock. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. , Vol. 94, pp. 243-251.

125

5. CONCLUSIONS

The intensive studies conducted in response to the Argo Merchant oil
spill have resulted in some significant findings, not only on the fate of the
oil from the tanker, but also on the behavior of spilled oil in general.

Preliminary chemical analyses for oil content have been completed for
all water and sediment samples taken up to February 12, 1977, by cooperating
scientists. Selected samples have been sent to the NOAA National Analytical
Facility in Seattle, Washington, for more detailed study. Biological studies
primarily based on the six stations occupied during the first cruise of the
Delaware II (DE 7 6-13) have been reported by NMFS scientists. However, the
chemical and biological studies are not complete. Further analyses are being
conducted by all concerned to complete the assessment of the fate and impact
of the oil spilled from the Argo Merchant. With these cautions in mind, the
following preliminary findings are presented and supported by this report.

Notable among these findings are:

(1) The oil from the Argo Merchant stayed on the ocean surface with the
exception of some of the "cutter stock," which entered the water column, and
an as-yet undetermined amount of whole oil that was mechanically worked into
the bottom in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. The cutter stock,
which comprised 20 percent of the oil, was found in the water column in
concentrations up to 250 parts per billion. The highest levels were only
found beneath fresh oil slicks. After a few days, these levels were reduced
to background levels by turbulent mixing.

(2) Oil in significant amounts has not been found in the sediments to
date, except within 10 miles of the bow section where it has been found in
concentrations up to 100 parts per million.

(3) Most of the oil remained on the surface and moved offshore under
the influence of the prevailing west winds. Surface oil was never observed
north of 4l°21' or west of 70°10', nor was it observed within 15 miles of any
land. Operational modeling efforts were successful in predicting the off-
shore movement of the surface oil primarily because the movement was con-
trolled by predominantly offshore winds while the complicated circulation of
near-shore areas and Nantucket Shoals played only a minor role.

(4) There is evidence of oil contamination in fish, shellfish, ichthyo-
plankton, and zooplankton populations in the area of the spill. Mortalities
of developing cod and pollock embryos in eggs contaminated with oil were
observed. No. 6 fuel oil caused significant mortalities of cod embryos in
laboratory experiments conducted by NMFS and collaborating scientists of EPA
and the University of Kiel. Noticeable decreases in the abundance of sand
launce larvae were observed in the spill zone that may have been caused by
oil. Large numbers of zooplankters, which are an important food of larval
and adult fish, were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons similar to No.

6 fuel oil, indicating that an important pathway in the food web of the
Nantucket Shoals ecosystem was impacted. The extent of this impact is under

126

investigation. Much of the oil in the copepods was in the form of fecal
pellets. These pellets are excreted into the water column, settle to the
bottom, and may be concentrated in benthic filter-feeders (mussels, scallops,
quahogs) . Adverse physiological effects were also observed in reduced re-
spiration of scallops, mussels, and in an ionic imbalance of blood serum of
blackback and yellowtail flounders. The implications of the above results
for long-term effects are unclear. Additional extensive surveys and labora-
tory tests be required to clarify preliminary findings.

(5) The No. 6 fuel oil from the Argo Merchant formed pancakes of oil
which tended to increase in thickness as they aged. These pancakes were ob-
served to have flat bottoms and they did not appear to be tapered towards
their edges. The surface area impacted by oil was not solidly covered by a
continuous film of oil but rather by thick pancakes, very thin oil film
(sheen) and large open areas of water. Several direct measurements of the
velocity of the pancakes of oil relative to the surface water were obtained
which indicate that this differential velocity is about 1 percent of wind
speed in a downwind direction. The oil sheen appeared to be generated by the
oil in the pancakes and moved at a slightly lower speed.

(6) Sufficient data were collected during the oil spill to allow the
generation of a data set which can be used for hindcasting the oil movement.
The collected data include meteorological observations, current observations
at several locations in the spill area, a time history of the area covered by
oil, as well as data on the amounts and fractions of the oil which entered
the water column as a function of time and space. Analyses of these data
will lead to the development of improved algorithms describing the fate of
oil. These algorithms can then be incorporated into predictive models.

5.1 Oil Transport

Under the influence of the predominant westerly winds and the wind-
induced surface currents, the oil spilled from the Argo Merchant moved in an
east-southeast direction from the site of the wreck on Nantucket Shoals out
past the Continental Shelf and became a part of the general circulation of
the North Atlantic Ocean. All indications are that the remaining oil will
not sink and will be present on the ocean surface for some time. This oil
has by now become a part of the "standing stock" of tar balls floating in
the North Atlantic. As such, they will tend to weather until the exterior
surface develops the characteristics of asphalt. The hard outer surface will
act as settling surfaces for barnacles, etc., while the interior of the
larger tar balls will retain much of the fluid consistency of the original
straight-run No. 6 fuel oil.

Each day that the oil moved off the Continental Shelf and into the
Atlantic circulation pattern, the weather became less of a forcing factor
and the slick movement was dominated by baroclinic (general oceanic) cur-
rents. The waters over Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank during the last two
weeks of December were vertically homogeneous, and the general westerly
current pattern described in BLM's EIS for Georges Bank did not appear to be

12;

established. In actual fact, in addition to the measured wind drift of the
oil, a net surface current on the order of 0.6 knot in a southeasterly direc-
tion was observed during that period. In less than 50 m of water, it appeared
that the net currents were responding well to the wind. The pancakes of oil
emanating from the wreck were observed to build up in thickness as they moved
away from the wreck. After 1 or 2 weeks of movement, thick patches of oil
which were originally 1 1/2 - 2 inches became 5 to 10 inch thick patches.
The ethereal "3%" wind factor that has been tossed about freely for years is
now being pinned down. Patches of Argo Merchant oil were measured moving
relative to the water at 0.7 to 1.1% of the wind speed, for wind speeds of 10
to 30 knots and oil thickness of 1 to 2 inches. The thinner sheens covering
much of the sea surface appear to be "fed" by the thick patches so that their
movement is limited to the 1% wind factor as well. This wind factor probably
represents the effect of energy transfer from waves interacting with the oil.
There is a wind-induced surface current, amounting to about 2% of the wind
speed, that also needs to be considered when predicting oil movement using
subsurface current information. However, when drift cards or bottles are the
source of current data, the "3%" figure is excessive as a wind factor and
should be replaced by a figure of about 1%.

A large amount of information has been gathered which has been and will
be of value in improving both operational forecasting of real oil spill tra-
jectories and statistical models of oil spills from a "risk analysis" point
of view. It is inadequate to use look-up tables for currents combined with
statistical models of wind, or vice-versa. In the near-shore environment,
the winds and currents are too highly correlated for the above approach to be
adequate. Moreover, for short-term forecasting, tidal currents as well as
wind drift should be included for realistic output. For real-time forecast-
ing, the value of accurate slick maps cannot be understated. Accurate meas-
urements of oil/water differential velocities, the observation that pancakes
build up in thickness rather than disperse, and the underslick cinematography
will all serve to improve the state-of-the-art in oil spill modeling.

5.2 Fate of the Oil

The Argo Merchant No. 6 fuel is composed of about 80% straight-run No. 6
and about 20% light distillate fuel (which was used as a "cutter stock" to
make the oil easier to handle) . It now appears that some of the cutter stock
entered the water column, at maximum levels on the order of 250 parts per
billion. Highest concentrations were found under fresh oil slicks though not
in the near-surface samples, but at depths of 2-3 m. Concentrations decreased
after a few days to background levels through turbulent mixing of the homo-
geneous water column. More definitive chemical analyses are being conducted
to verify these findings.

Severe artifical weathering of a cargo sample indicated that the
straight-run No. 6 component retains a positive buoyancy and will not sink
unless aided. The oil found in the vicinity of the wreckage is associated
with shell fragments in the sediments and would otherwise rise due to its
natural buoyancy. The U.S. Navy divers reported no visible oil on the bottom

128

approximately 1/4 mile from the wreck on December 23, and their film supports
this finding. Since the currents at the wreck site are primarily tidal, the
oil had passed over the spot checked by the divers twice a day for 7 days
prior to the dive. Microscopic examination of 25 sediment samples from the
Delaware II cruises also indicated the absence of visible oil. Thin-layer
chromatographic analyses of sediment samples have indicated very low petro-
leum hydrocarbon (PHC) levels with the majority of the samples exhibiting
less than 1 part per million PHC's. Sediment samples from the Ooeanus
cruises indicated appreciable levels, up to 5 ppm, of PHC's. The highest
levels were found at Ooeanus stations 1 and 5 which are located to the west
of Nantucket Shoals in an area of mud bottom. The oil slick was never within
20 miles of these stations. Additional analytical work confirmed that the
oil in these samples is not from the Argo Merchant.

Preliminary evidence indicates that oil from the Argo Merchant is being
cycled through the food web of the Nantucket Shoals ecosystem. Large numbers
of zooplankters which are an important food of larval and adult fish are
contaminated with oil. The presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in zooplankton
indicates that an important pathway between plankton, necton, and benthos is
contaminated. The oil can be concentrated in the tissues of shellfish as
they feed on fecal pellets of the zooplankton. The significance of the
cycling of the Argo Merchant oil through the food web has not been fully
assessed and will be the subject of additional survey and experimental
efforts.

Oil was found in the bottom sediments near the bow section on February
11, 1977. The area where the bow section dragged is contaminated with Argo
Merchant oil, presumably from physical contact with the bow section. The
area encompassed by this contamination is not known at present, but resus-
pension of oiled sediments in the area appears to be transporting the oil to
the southwest. Another Endeavor cruise was conducted February 21-25 to
establish the magnitude and extent of the oil contamination around the wreck-
age itself.

"Tar balls" reported washing ashore on southwest Nantucket Island in
March appeared to have come from a recent spill, and analysis is under way
to determine whether the tar comes from crude or refined petroleum. However,
this will not be able to establish whether the tar originated with oil
spilled by the Argo Merchant or with another spill of No. 6 fuel oil.

5.3 Biological Effects

Although it is difficult at this time to assess the possible damage to
the Georges Bank-Nantucket Shoals ecosystem, some evidence has been found of
oil contaminating several species of fish, shellfish, and plankton in the
area of the oil spill.

Mortalities were observed in developing cod and pollock embryos in eggs
collected from the area. Greatest damage was observed in eggs collected
closest to the Argo Merchant, and genetic damage was greater in pollock eggs
than cod eggs. In one sample taken near the spill, 98 percent of the pollock
eggs sampled were dead or moribund, as against 64 percent of the cod eggs in

129

the same sample. Averaged over all stations sampled, pollock embryos showed
46 percent mortality or moribundity, with cod embryos running about 20 per-
centage points less. These observed mortalities need to be evaluated
against the high levels of naturally occurring egg mortality. Efforts are
now underway to assess the impact of these mortalities on the cod and pollock
stocks of the Georges Bank-Nantucket Shoals area. Results from laboratory
studies conducted jointly with EPA, Narragansett , and Dr. Walter Kuhnhold,
visiting scientist with NMFS from the University of Kiel, Federal Republic of
Germany, have shown that No. 6 fuel oil will cause mortalities and retarded
development of cod eggs at concentrations between 100 and 500 parts per
billion. They also report that dying eggs sink to the bottom, indicating
that survey collection of moribund eggs may be seriously underestimating
actual population mortalities.

Zooplankton food of larval and adult fish was also contaminated with
Avgo Merchant oil. Copepods were observed with oil on feeding appendages, in
alimentary tracts, and on the surface of the body. In addition, oil similar
to Argo Merchant oil was in alimentary tracts and fecal pellets of those
species collected within and adjacent to the spill area, indicating an im-
portant contaminant pathway from the spill into the food web of Nantucket
Shoals. Oil ingested by copepods could be concentrated as it moves through
the food web as fecal pellets from contaminated zooplankton are ingested by
filter feeders, or if zooplankton containing oil are eaten directly by preda-
tors including larval and adult fish. Argo Merchant oil is persisting in the
food web; as recently as February 23 1977 , copepods were collected which,
under microscopic examination, contained petroleum residues.

Substantially smaller numbers (80% less) of larval sand launce at sta-
tions sampled within the spill zone, compared to outside the zone, may have
been caused by the toxic effects of oil. Although not a commercially impor-
tant species at this time, the sand launce is an important food of fish,
including cod, haddock, pollock, and hake. It is also eaten in large quanti-
ties by whales and porpoises. The effect of these lower numbers of larvae on
the production of sand launce in the Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank area
is presently under study by NMFS scientists of the Northeast Fisheries Cen-
ter.

Scientists of NMFS working at the Milford Laboratory detected imbalances
in the normal physiological responses of mussels and scallops collected from
the waters contaminated with oil. Respiration rates were lower than in
samples collected outside of the spill zone. Also, the ionic balance of
blood serum is blackback and yellowtail flounders was lower than in control
specimens collected from outside the spill area.

It is not possible at this time to extrapolate from the oil-caused
mortalities and sublethal effects observed to the impact on the productivity
of the Nantucket Shoals-Georges Bank ecosystem. Additional sampling and
experimentation over the next year is required for an adequate assessment of
damage.

130

Twenty-two samples of fish and invertebrates have been sent to the NOAA
National Analytical Laboratory in Seattle for complete hydrocarbon analyses.
Pending the outcome of those tests, a second group of samples may be sent.

Of the seabirds affected by the spilled oil, observed mortality was
highest among Murres. Lack of adequate offshore sampling information pre-
cludes any definitive conclusions on the extent of impact.

Marine mammals did not appear to be affected by the oil in the few cases
where they were seen in the vicinity of oil. However, as with the seabirds,
these findings are based on very limited sampling.

It should be noted that no significant adverse effects have been re-
ported by fishermen trawling off the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coasts.
In 900 interviews conducted by NMFS Port Agents, only 26 reported damage,
mostly to sea birds. Only two fishermen indicated problems associated with
the fouling of gear in oil slick waters.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

The field phase of the research activities described in this report thus
far have been completed. There are, however, a number of ongoing activities
which are discussed below.

6.1 Physical Processes

The U.S. Coast Guard will continue the mapping of the oil released from
the Argo Merchant until stopped by the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
when he determines that it is no longer necessary.

The National Weather Service will continue to provide support to the OCS
and the community at large in the form of forecasts, warnings, etc. In the
event that a "blowup" of the wreck is planned, the operation will be expanded
to include 10-day outlooks, delegation of a Weather Service operational re-
presentative to collocate with the OSC, and expanded and more numbeous fore-
casts. It has been estimated that operational support may be necessary for
surveillance, diving, and other activities through mid- 1977.

The data collected by the installed current meters will be retrieved and
analyzed by the organizations which supplied them. These data will be very
useful to the modelers concerned with forecasting spilled oil movement for
validating intermediate portions of their models and to refine them to the
local and other areas.

The outputs generated by each of the models described in Section 2.3
will be further analyzed in efforts to improve their accuracy in light of the
new information acquired.

131

6.2 Chemical Processes

Selected water, sediment, and fish samples will be analyzed at the NMFS
National Analytical Facility by gas chroma tograph-mass spectrometer techni-
ques to complete the studies on the fate and weathering of the Argo Merchant
oil. In addition, samples will continue to be processed as the Endeavor re-
turns to the scene of the wreckage to measure the extent of bottom contami-
nation in that area.

6.3 Biological Processes

The Argo Merchant oil spill in its passage over Nantucket Shoals and
southeast Georges Bank encroached on the spawning grounds of cod, haddock,
pollock, herring, flounders (yellowtail, blackback, four-spot, sanddab) and
important scallop and silver hake fishing grounds. Considering the impor-
tance of the area, fish, shellfish, ichthyoplankton and benthos assessments
will be made by the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Center through extension and
augmentation of ongoing MARMAP surveys during the next 18 months to determine
the actual or potential impact. It is intended through Center reprogramming
and temporary reassignments to complete six to nine MARMAP surveys over the
area of the spill. These will provide important statistical infomation on
species composition and relative abundance, but these data will provide
little substantive information on the sublethal effects of the spill on the
"health" or condition of the stocks.

If the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons on the fisheries resources of
the area is to be assessed with any reasonable probability of success, it is
essential to process selected species of fish, shellfish, benthos and ich-
thyoplankton for genetic damage, disruption of normal physiological proces-
ses, pathobiological conditions, and for levels of petroleum hydrocarbon
contaminants.

Plans have been developed to carry forward a comprehensive long-term
assessment, which will include the following studies:

Two NMFS cruises are planned to assess changes in populations of impor-
tant benthos and shellfish. Specimens of several shellfish species will be
collected for evidence of pathological conditions and toxic effects from
petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment.

Expanded monitoring of larval and juvenile fish will encompass the area
of the oil spill to assess changes in population levels.

Ongoing cooperative efforts between NMFS (Drs. Laurence and Kuhnhold,
Narragansett) and EAP (Jackim and Lef court, Narragansett ) will be augmented
to determine effects of No. 6 fuel oil on pelagic fish eggs and larvae. In
addition, eggs and larvae of cod, and other demersal species such as winter
flounder will be used to test for responses of eggs and larvae to treatment
with "surrogate" Argo Merchant oil.

13:

Chromosomal studies of fish eggs and embryos (Dr. Longwell, NMFS, Mil-
ford) will be extended to examine fish species in the Georges Bank-Nantucket
Shoals area. Genetically based egg mortality occurring in populations fishes
will be assessed and the relative importance of hydrocarbons and natural
environmental factors inducing lethal chromosome errors in developing fish
eggs will be investigated.

Specimens of tissue from selected fish and shellfish species from clean
and impacted areas will be analyzed (Rosenfield, NMFS, Oxford) for evidence
of abnormalities, tissue, and cellular diseases. Also, incidence of anatomic
lesions in fish and shellfish from clean and contaminated areas will be
monitored.

Analyses of tissue samples (Gould and Thurberg, NMFS, Milford) from fish
and shellfish (e.g., ocean scallops and horse mussels) will continue to
identify indicators of the physiological and biochemical health of the organ-
ism (such as hematology and respiration rates, shifts in metabolic pathways,
induction or suppression of enzyes.

Hydrocarbon analyses on selected fish and shellfish (adults, juveniles
and embryos) will continue at the NOAA National Analytical Facility in
Seattle, Washington.

133

j

APPENDIX I
Contributors and Participants

1-1

Spilled Oil Research Team

James S. Mattson, Chief Scientist
CEDDA, EDS, NOAA, Washington, D.C.

Craig Hooper, Program Manager

OCSEAP, ERL, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado

Jerry A. Gait, Team Leader

PMEL, ERL, NOAA, Seattle, Washington

Peter L. Grose, Team Leader

CEDDA, EDS, NOAA, Washington, D.C.

David M. Kennedy, Team Leader

Arctic Project Office, ERL, NOAA, Fairbanks, Alaska

Rod Swope, Team Leader

OCSEAP, ERL, NOAA, Juneau, Alaska

Elaine I. Chan, East Coast Team

CEDDA, EDS, NOAA, Washington, D.C.

Gary Hufford, East Coast Team

Research and Development Center, USCG, Groton, Connecticut

Sue Lease, Boulder Team

OCSEAP, ERL, NOAA, Boulder Colorado

Dick Feely, West Coast Team

PMEL, ERL, NOAA, Seattle, Washington

Marilyn Pizzello, West Coast Team

PMEL, ERL, NOAA, Seattle, Washington

John Janssen, Fairbanks Team

Department of Environmental Conservation, State of Alaska

Alan Kegler, Juneau Team

Department of Environmental Conservation, State of Alaska

Sue Anderson, Juneau Team

OCSEAP, ERL, NOAA, Juneau, Alaska

Department of Transportation (DOT)

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

Captain Lynn Hein, Federal On-Scene Coordinator
1st District, Boston, Massachusetts

1-2

Cmdr. Charles Morgan

Oceanographic Unit, Washington, D.C.

LCmdr. Barry Chambers, Commanding Officer
Atlantic Strike Team, National Strike Force
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Scot Fortier

Research and Development Center, Groton, Connecticut

LCmdr. Ivan Lissaur

Research and Development Center, Groton, Connecticut

Cmdr. Richard Rybacki, Assistant Director

Research and Development Center, Groton, Connecticut

Joseph Deaver

Oceanographic Unit, Washington, D.C.

Bill Anthony

Oceanographic Unit, Washington, D.C.

Richard Jadamec

Research and Development Center, Groton, Connecticut

Lt. David Freydenlund

Oceanographic Unit, Washington, D.C.

Bruce Thompson, MST

Research and Development Center, Groton, Connecticut

Cmdr. Ian Cruikshank, Commanding Officer
USCGC Vigilant _, New Bedford, Massachusetts

LCmdr. J. F. Overath, Commanding Officer

USCGC Bittersweet, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

LCmdr. Bebeau, MSO

USCGC Bittersweet, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA)

Environmental Data Service (EDS)

Fredrick Godshall, CEDDA, Washington, D.C.

Joseph Bishop, CEDDA, Washington, D.C.

Jack Carlile, CEDDA, Washington, D.C.

Bob Dennis, CEDDA, Washington, D.C.

Katherine Kidwell, CEDDA, Washington, D.C.

George Heimerdinger , NODC, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

1-3

Environmental Research Laboratories (ERL)

Lou Butler, MESA, Boulder, Colorado
Herb Curl, MESA, Boulder, Colorado
John Robinson, MESA, Boulder, Colorado
Edward P. Meyers, MESA, Boulder, Colorado
David Friis, OCSEAP, Boulder, Colorado
Rosalie A. Redmond, OCSEAP, Boulder, Colordo
Don Swift, AOML, Miami, Florida

NOAA Data Buoy Office (NDBO)

James Winchester, Director, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Dewain Clark, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Jay Harris, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Frank Riley, Gloucester, Massachusetts

Dusty Gould, Milford, Connecticut

Arlene Longwell, Milford, Connecticut

Fred Thurberg, Milford, Connecticut

Donna Busch, Narragansett , Rhode Island

Walter Kiihnhold (visiting expert from University of Kiel, FRG)

Ray Maurer, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Carolyn Rogers, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Kenneth Sherman, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Loretta Sullivan, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Wally Smith, Sandy Hook, New Jersey

William D. , MacLeod, Seattle, Washington

Ray Bowman, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Henry Jensen, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

George Kelly, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Richard Langton, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Roland Wigley, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Redwood Wright, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

National Weather Service (NWS)

Celso Barrientos, Silver Spring, Maryland
Anthony Tancreto, Boston, Massachusetts

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Carl Eidam, Region 1

Paul Lef court, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Richard Pruell, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Dianne Everich, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Eugene Jackim, Narragansett, Rhode Island

1-4

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Langley Research Center

John P. Mugler, Jr., Team Leader, Hampton, Virginia
Wendell G. Ayres, Hampton, Virginia
David Bowker, Hampton, Virginia
John T. Shuttles, Hampton, Virginia

Wallops Flight Center

John D. Oberholtzer, Wallops Island, Virginia
Chester L. Parsons, Wallops Island, Virginia

Department of the Interior (DPI)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Ken Berger, New York, N.Y.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Brad Butman, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
David Folger, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
David M. Schultz, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Richard A. Smith, Reston, Virginia
J. Slack, Reston, Virginia
T. Wyant, Reston, Virginia

Department of Defense (POD)

U.S. Navy (USN)

Chief Richard Johnson, Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command
Larry Cregger, Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command
Ken Hess, Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command
Troy Gruber, Atlantic Fleet Audio Visual Command
David Shonting, Naval Underwater Systems Center

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Fisheries and Game

James Cardozo, Boston, Massachusetts

Research and Academic Institutions

Manomet Bird Observatory (MBO)

Kathleen Anderson
James M. Loughlin

1-5

Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)

John E. Hobbie
B. J. Peterson
George Woodwell

University of Rhode Island (URI)

Chris Brown, Chemistry

Peter Cornillon, Ocean Engineering

Robert Gordon, Ocean Engineering

Lisa Gould, Zoology

Remy Halm, Ocean Engineering

Eva J. Hoffman, Graduate School of Oceanography

Christopher Noll, Ocean Engineering

James G. Quinn, Graduate School of Oceanography

Robert Sexton, Graduate School of Oceanography

Malcolm Spaulding, Ocean Engineering

Mason Wilson, Mechanical Engineering

Howard Winn, Graduate School of Oceanography

University of Southern California (USC)

Ronald Kolpack, Geology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Jerome H. Milgram

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

Robert Beardsley
John Farrington
Peter Fricke
Robert A. Frosch
John Milliman
Phil Richardson
Howard Sanders
John Teal

Contractors

Aero-Marine Services, Inc. (BLM subcontract)

Development Sciences, Inc. (Office of Sea Grant, NOAA, contract)

Discover Flying (SOR contract)

EG&G (BLM contract)

New England Air-Photo Association (EPA contract)

Raytheon (BLM contract)

Individuals

Ben Baxter, marine mammal observer
Barbara Morson, marine bird observer

1-6

APPENDIX II
Chronology

II-l

SEVENTEEN-DAY SUMMARY: DECEMBER 15 TO 31, 1976

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: U.S. Coast Guard cutters on station recorded
hourly meteorological data.

Sea: Sea conditions recorded hourly by U.S. Coast
Guard cutter.

Argo Merchant

One of the largest oil spills in American history.
7h million gallons of oil spilled.

USCG
Operations

Unable to save the Argo Merchant despite heroic efforts.
Water samples collected daily by USCGC's Bittersweet and
Vigilant • Forecasting should improve after analysis of
Argo Merchant data.

Overflights

Visual and infrared mapping of plume. Mammal sightings.
Oil and water current measurements. Drift cards dropped
as early warning systems. Extensive photographic record,

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Coordination of research activities. Measurements to
document the fate of Argo Merchant oil.

Other
Operations

Normal wintering whale and porpoise populations
established. No noticeable reaction to spill.
Movies taken by U.S. Navy of morphology of the
underside of the slick and bottom. No visible
oil. Eleven current meters deployed at 6 moorings.

Ship
Cruises

During nine cruises, 210 water samples, 34 sediment
samples, and 40 intertidal samples obtained. Plankton
samples and organisms also collected. No confirmed
reports of visible oil.

Spill
Characteristics

Intense mapping of spill. "Thickening" phenomenon data
available for research on oil weathering. Oil transport
and dispersion data established. Basis for long-range
research program established.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

Research activities coordinated by participating scientists

II-2

Wednesday, December 15, 19 76

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air:

Sea:

Medium visibility. Overcast. High southwest
winds at 35 knots in late afternoon, veering
toward east winds at 4 knots toward midnight.
Large, 10-foot, waves and swells.

Argo Merchant

0700
1115
1340
1630

Ship aground on Nantucket shoals. 40
Flooding of engine rooms continues.
Discharge of oil observed by USCG.
Twenty crewmen removed.

55'N 69° 33'W

USCG
Operations

0700
1115
1115
1315

Distress call received.

Strike force boards Argo Merchant.

USCGC Sherman on scene; remains entire day.

USCGC Vigilant on scene; remains entire day.

Plans begun for operations forecasting of oil drift.

Overflights

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

1300
1630
2100

Notified by NMFS
Responds .
On site.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises

Spill
Characteristics

Unknown .

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

Note: All times are Eastern Standard Time,

II-3

Thursday, December 16

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air:

Sea:

Low visibility. Northeast winds at 13 knots.
Overcast. Ceiling 2000 feet, dropping to
500 feet in afternoon.
Calm. Strong currents. Small, 1-foot, waves

Argo Merchant

0400: Pumping (dewatering) of engine room.
2300: Ship abandoned. Evacuation of all personnel
Ship bearing 315°.

USCG
Operations

1547: Assumes full control and responsibility for Argo

Merchant .
2100: Begins operational forecasting of oil drift.
1600-1625: USCGC Bittersweet on scene.
USCGC's Sherman and Vigilant on scene entire day.

Overflights

0930: Cessna-182 deploys current probes and dye markers
1500: Second mission aborted because of low visibility.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Aboard Cessna-182.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises

Spill
Characteristics

Oil 2 miles north to south and 4 miles east to west.
Oil moving west. Streak of oil; bearing about 240 .

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings.

2300: University of Rhode Island coordination meeting
with SOR Team at Hyannis.

II-4

Friday, December 17

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Overcast. Rain and snow. West

medium winds at 17 knots.
Sea: Small, 2- to 4-foot, waves and swells.

Argo Merchant

41° 1.0 69° 27.0' vessel pivoting counterclockwise.
Bulkheads and deck buckling. List 5-10*2; to starboard.

USCG
Operations

0236: USCG Bittersweet on scene with boom; remains entire

day.
0430-1245: Barge on scene.
1045: USCGC Sherman departs.
USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.

Overflights

1145: HU-16E. Current probes. Video tape. Mapping.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises

Spill
Characteristics

Heavy plume of 95 to 100 percent oil extends northwest for
5 miles, then west for 3h miles. No sheen or slick.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

1200: University of Rhode Island coordination meeting ends
1400: Planning meeting with Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (WHOI) .

II-5

Saturday, December 18

Weather

Air

Conditions

(Daylight)

Sea

High visibility. Scattered clouds
northwest at 30 knots.
Five- to 8-foot waves.

High winds west-

Argo Merchant 41° 02.0'N 69° 27. 5W Bearing 0800-250°, 1200-240°, 1700-2445

Ship listing 15° to starboard. Pitch and yaw movement.

USCG
Operations

0600: USCGC Bittersweet and first barge depart.

barge in area.
1035: Strike force boards Argo Merchant.
1513: Strike force departs.
USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.

Second

Overflights

0600: PA-23. Current measurements.

0837: HU-16E. Infrared mapping. Surface markers. Deploy-
ment of current probes, dye markers, and drift cards,

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard PA-23 and HU-16E.

Other
Operations

Oil sample taken by Milgram from tanker cargo.
AMSI overflight.

Ship Cruises

Spill
Characteristics

Globs of oil drifting from starboard side of Argo Merchant
and forward of her bow. "Pancakes" observed 27 miles east
of ship. Heavy plume forming horseshoe path lh miles long,

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

WHOI Oceanus cruise coordination meeting at Woods Hole.

II-6

Sunday, December 19

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: High visibility. Thin overcast. Medium west winds

at 18 knots.
Sea: Calm. Small waves and swells.

Argo Merchant

Ship bearing 239° Position 41° 02.0'N 69° 27.5'W
List 15° to starboard.

USCG
Operations

1400: Strike force boards Argo Merchant.
1430: Strike force departs.
1645: Rigging of fenders and anchors.
USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.
Mooring systems loaded.

Overflights

0900
1000
1400

1500

NASA C-54.

EPA oil survey.

H-3. Mapping. Current probes. Drift cards. Dye

markers .

Cessna-182. Current probes. Drift cards. Dye markers

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard H-3 and Cessna-182.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises

Spill
Characteristics

Oil coming off bow of Argo Merchant. Heavy sickle-shaped
plume extending 16 miles, with an average width of 2 miles
"Pancakes" observed and sampled.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

II-7

Monday, December 20

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: High- to-medium visibility. Scattered clouds.

Medium south winds at 18 knots.
Sea: Small waves.

Argo Merchant

Unchanged .

USCG
Operations

0036: USCGC Spar on scene.

0745: Strike force boards Argo Merchant.

1625: Strike force departs.

USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.

Fenders, anchors and marker light rigged. Mooring buoys set,

Overflights

0930: H-3. Mapping. Current probes. Drift cards and dye

markers. Smoke bomb.
1430: Cessna-182 terminated by weather.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard H-3, Cessna-182, and WHOI Oceanus cruise,

Other
Operations

Ship
Cruises

1430: WHOI Oceanus cruise 19 begins. Water and sediment
sampling. Biological investigations.

Spill
Characteristics

A great deal of oil coming off stern of Argo Merchant.
Main plume banana-shaped, 2>h miles wide and 16 miles long,
Sheen 7 miles long attached to southeast edge.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

II-8

Tuesday, December 21

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Low- to-medium low visibility. Overcast. High west
winds at 25 knots.

Argo Merchant

0800: Bearing 258°. Pitching up to 10 feet. 100° behind

bridge.
0835: Ship split in two aft of king post. Approximately

\\ million gallons of oil released after breakup.

Bow bearing 025° , stern 260° .

USCG
Operations

Bow bearing 045°. Grinding on stern.
USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.

Overflights

0930: HU-16E. Mapping.

1245: H-3. Inspection of vessel.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E; mapped breakup dump
Personnel aboard WHOI Oceanus .
" H-3.

Other
Operations

Ship
Cruises

1438: WHOI Oceanus cruise ends because of severe weather.
USGS Uhitefoot cruise begins.

Spill
Characteristics

Heavy slick extending east 6 miles, averaging 2% miles in
width. Sheen extending 8 miles east from mixed heavy
"pancakes." Area of dispersed "pancakes" extending 60 miles
east and 25 miles north.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

II-9

Wednesday, December 22

Weather

Air:

Conditions

(Daylight)

Sea:

High visibility. Broken clouds
at 50 to 15 knots.
Fifteen- to 5-foot waves.

High west winds

Argo Merchant

0730: Bow section splits forward of bridge. Ship in three

pieces.
Ice 1/4 inch thick. Center section sunk, bearing 45°.

USCG
Operations

1930: USCGC Bittersweet arrives on scene
USCGC Vigilant on scene entire day.

Overflights

1005: HU-16E. Mapping. Whale sighted.

1044: H-3. Differential velocity measurements. Oil samples

1130: NASA C-54.

1505: PA-23. Oblique and vertical photos.

NASA Landsat.

EPA oil survey.

N0AA/USCG
S0R Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E and H-3.

Other
Operations

AMSI conducts overflights.

Ship
Cruises

NOAA/NMFS Delaware II cruise DE76-13. Begins measurement of

environmental conditions, XBT temperature profiles, surface

and column water samples, fish and bottom biological samples

for two stations. Plankton, neuston, and bottom sediment

samples at six stations. Bird fouling noted.

USGS White foot cruise.

USCG Evergreen cruise begins.

Spill
Characteristics

Three mixed patches of densely packed "pancakes"
interspersed among large patches of lightly packed "pan-
cakes" extending 100 miles east and averaging 25 miles in
width.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

1000-1130: EPA scientific meeting in Boston.
1900-1930: Senator Edward Kennedy's public hearing.

11-10

Thursday, December 23

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Scattered clouds. Medium north-
west winds at 20 knots.
Sea: Calm. Small waves. Two- to 3-foot swells.

Argo Merchant Unchanged.

USCG
Operations

1250: Strike force boards Argo Merchant and opens hatches.

1616: Strike force departs.

USCGC's Vigilant and Bittersweet on scene entire day.

Overflights

0855
1035
1140
1257

H-3.

HU-16E. Mapping. Current measurements. Whale sighted,

PA-23. Current probes. Photos. Two whales sighted.

H-3.

NASA Landsat.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard both HU-3 overflights, as well as aboard
HU-16E.

Other
Operations

0855-1140: Navy divers dive below slick and complete bottom

survey.
AMSI overflight.

Ship
Cruises

NOAA/NMFS Delaware II cruise continues
USGS Uhitefoot cruise.
USCG Evergreen cruise.

Spill
Characteristics

Total extent 90 miles with average width of 30 miles. Heavy
"pancake" concentrations extending 25 miles east of Argo
Merchant. Light "pancake" concentrations further out
surrounded by sheen.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-11

Friday, December 24

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Scattered clouds

west winds at 20 knots.
Sea: Calm.

Medium north-

Argo Merchant Unchanged. Stern bearing 260°, bow 45'

USCG

Operations

USCGC's Vigilant and Bittersweet on scene entire day,

Overflights

0945
0958
1014

HU-16E. Mapping.
PA-23. Surface markers
H-3.

NOAA/USCG
S0R Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E and H-3.

Other
Operations

AMSI overflight.

Ship
Cruises

NOAA/NMFS Delaware II cruise completed,
USGS Whitefoot cruise ends.
USCG Evergreen cruise.

Spill
Characteristics

Total extent 100 miles east. Two flukes formed at the
end, with a width of 10 to 20 miles. Moderate concentra-
tion of "pancakes" along center, surrounded by light
concentrations .

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-12

Saturday, December 25

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Cloud base approximately 1000 feet

Medium southwest winds at 20 knots.
Sea: Calm.

Argo Merchant Unchanged.

USCG
Operations

Forecast of onshore wind conditions. Reactivation of

personnel. Beach cleanup contingency.

USCGC's Bittersweet and Vigilant on scene entire day.

Overflights

1013: IIU-16E. Mapping of "Pancake 1." Vigilant directed to
"pancake" for sampling.

NOAA/USCG
S0R Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises USCGC Evergreen cruise,

Spill
Characteristics

Plume tracked out to 80 miles east, averaging 20 to 30
miles in width. "Pancake 1" spotted 35 miles east of

Argo Merchant.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-13

Sunday, December 26

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air:

Sea:

Medium-to-low visibility. Overcast. Rain, fog, and
snow. Medium-to-high southeast winds at 15 knots,
veering toward northwest at 35 knots.
Two- to 3-foot waves.

Argo Merchant Unchanged,

USCG
Operations

1345: Four drops of drift cards.

USCGC's Bitterwweet and Vigilant on scene entire day,

Overflights

0916: HU-16E. Mapping of "Pancake 1." Oil current and
drift cards dropped.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16E. Dropped 3180 drift cards.

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises USCOC Evergreen cruise,

Spill
Characteristics

Plume tracked 40 miles east, averaging 40 miles in width
"Pancake 1" 40 miles east. Marked with drift cards.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-14

Monday, December 27

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Low cloud base. High west winds

at 33 knots.
Sea: Eight-foot waves.

Argo Merchant

0800: Bow section rolled over.

USCG
Operations

USCGC's Bittersweet and Vigilant on scene entire day.

A total of 3000 drift cards dropped on three separate

occasions.

1600: First burning experiment completed.

Overflights

0900
0912
1324

H-3.

HU-16E. Mapping. Dropped data marker buoy

PA-23. Drift cards dropped.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard H-3 and HU-16 flights.

Other
Operations

AMSI overflight.

Ship WHOI Oceanus cruise 20. Collection of suspended sediment

Cruises samples and bottom sediment.

USGS White foot cruise. USCGC Evergreen cruise.

Spill
Characteristics

Plume seen as one large butterfly-shaped patch 110 miles
long and 10 to 40 miles wide, with furthest edge 140 miles
Smaller patch 20 miles long and 5 miles wide.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-15

Tuesday, December 28

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air:

Sea:

Very low visibility. No visibility at 1000 feet
Overcast. Medium west winds veering toward east
at 15 knots.
Data ship into lee.

Argo Merchant Unchanged.

USCG
Operations

1528: USCGC Bittersweet relieves USCGC Vigilant. Vigilant

departs.
Bittersweet remains on scene.

Overflights No flights because of poor weather,

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Assisted in OSC press conference

Ship
Cruises

WHOI Oaeanus cruise 20 continues.

URI Endeavor cruise begins.

USGS White foot . Plankton tows. Water and sediment samples

USCGC Evergreen cruise ends.

Spill No determination because of weather preventing overflights.

Characteristics

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

OSC press conference.

SOR Team and USCG representatives meet with Marine Mammals

Commission in Boston.

11-16

Wednesday, December 29

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air:

Sea:

Low- to-medium visibility. Overcast. Rain. Medium-
high east winds at 20 knots, veering toward west at
35 knots.
Three- to 4-foot waves. Five- to 6-foot swells.

Argo Merchant Bow section moving slightly to southeast,

USCG
Operations

USCGC Bittersweet on scene entire day,

Overflights No flights because of poor weather,

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Other
Operations

Ship
Cruises

WHOI Ooeanus cruise 20 ends .
URI Endeavor cruise ends .

Spill No determination because of weather preventing overflights

Characteristics

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

11-17

Thursday, December 30

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Medium visibility. Broken clouds. Snow. High west

winds at 40 knots.
Sea: Four- to 6-foot waves. Twelve- to 16-foot swells.

Argo Merchant

Bow section moved 400-500 yds southeast of stern.
Bow capsized. Bearing 130°.

USCG
Operations

A total of 2000 drift cards dropped at two locations

USCGC's Spar arrives on scene.

USCGC's Bittersweet and Dallas on scene.

Overflights

1002: PA-23. Drift cards and dye markers
H-3. Drift cards.

NOAA/USCG
S0R Team
Operations

Personnel aboard H-3.

Other
Operations

AMSI overflight,

Ship
Cruises

URI Endeavor.
USCGC Dallas.

Spill No determination because of poor weather.

Characteristics

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

H-18

Friday, December 31

Weather

Conditions

(Daylight)

Air: Low- to -medium visibility. Snow. Medium west winds

at 15 knots.
Sea: Two-foot waves. Three- to 6-foot swells.

Argo Merchant

Bow, bearing 140°, holed with 20-mm cannon fire to prevent
drifting and remove navigation hazard.

USCG
Operations

USCGC Spar. Burning experiment. Sample of slick obtained

Overflights

1254: PA-23. Drift cards and dye markers
1530: H-3. Buoy deployed on "pancake."
HU-16E mapping. AMSI overflight.

NOAA/USCG
SOR Team
Operations

Personnel aboard HU-16 and H-3. Begin whale watching

Other
Operations

Ship Cruises USCGC Spar.

Spill
Characteristics

Leading edge further than 140 miles out from Argo Merchant
location in general southeast direction.

Coordination
Meetings and
Briefings

1000: Secretary of Transportation press conference

11-19

APPENDIX III
Selected Photographs

III-l

List of Photographs

No.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant ,

Argo

Merchant,

Argo

Merchant ,

Description

Dec.

16, 1976

Dec.

17, 1976

Dec.

18, 1976

Dec.

19, 1976

Dec.

20, 1976

Dec.

21, 1976

22,
24,

1976
1976

Jan,
Jan.

after first break, Dec.

after second break, Dec

Dec. 25, 1976

Dec. 27, 1976

Dec. 31, 1976

stern section,

stern section,

bow section, Jan

bow section, Jan. 4, 1977

bow section, Jan. 5, 1977

19, 1976 (frame 0037)

19, 1976 (frame 0108)

19, 1976, at 1023 (frame 0149)

19, 1976, at 1037 (frame 0061)

3,

2, 1977

3, 1977
1977

Oil slick, Dec

Oil slick, Dec

Oil slick, Dec

Oil slick, Dec

End of slick, Dec. 19, 1976 (frame 0091)

Photomosaic of oil slick, Dec. 19, 1976

Composite mosaic of oil slick, Dec. 19,

Oil slick, Dec. 22, 1976 (frame 0260)

1976

1976 (frame 0279)

1976 (frame 0318)

1976 (frame 0321)

1976 (frame 0336)

Oil slick, Dec. 22,

Oil slick, Dec. 22,

Oil slick, Dec. 22,

Oil slick, Dec. 22,

Underside of pancake

Edge of pancake

Divers ' dye experiment

Waves being absorbed by oil (lower right)

Richardson current probe and smoke

Richardson current probe and smoke

Setup for differential velocity measurement

Same as photograph 33, but 20.4 seconds later

Pancake 1, Dec. 25, 1976

Pancake 1, Dec. 25, 1976, 3 hours later

Pancake, 8 x 12 feet, Dec. 19, 1976

Pancake, 8 x 10 feet, Dec. 22, 1976

Pancake, 10 x 20 feet

Pancake, 300 feet, before burn test, Dec. 27,

Burn test on 300-foot pancake, Dec. 27, 1976

Burn test on 200-foot pancake, Dec. 31, 1976

Oil sample from 2 inch thick oil slick

Failed attempt to sample sheen and thin oil

Oiled Herring Gull

Finback whale sighted on Jan. 6, 1977

III-2

1976

Credit

SOR
SOR
SOR
SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

USN

USN

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

SOR

1 1 1-3

-P
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III-5

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o

III-6

17. Oil slick, Deo. 19.

III-7

I slick3 Dec. 1

III-8

19. Oil slick, Dec. 19 at 1023,

III-9

20. Oil stick, Dec. 19 at 1037.

111-10

21. End of slick, Dec. 19.

III-ll

I

on

ut

oo z
S2 O

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24. Oil slick, Deo. 22.

1 1 1-14

25. Oil slick, Deo. 22.

111-15

26. Oil slick, Bee. 22.

I II-16

27. Oil slick, Bee. 22.

1 11-17

28. Oil slick, Dec. 22.

III-1G

■

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to
to

111-20

1 11-21

1 1 1-22

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0)

CO

1 11-23

APPENDIX IV
Oil Slick Maps
(Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard; drafted by K. Kidwell, CEDDA, EDS, NOAA)

IV-1

List of Maps

Date

Page

December

17,

1976

IV- 3

December

18,

1976

IV-4

December

19.

1976

IV-5

December

20

, 1976

IV-6

December

21,

1976

IV-7

December

22

, 1976

IV-8

December

23,

1976

IV-9

December

24,

1976

IV-10

December

25,

1976

IV-11

December

26.

1976

IV-12

December

27

, 1976

IV-13

December

31

, 1976

IV-14

January

2

, 1977

IV-15

January

3

i 1977

IV-16

January

4

, 1977

IV-17

January

5

, 1977

IV-18

January

6

, 1977

IV-19

January

8

, 1977

IV-20

January

12

, 1977

IV-21

January

13

, 1977

IV-22

January

14

, 1977

IV-23

January

19

, 1977

IV-24

January

21

, 1977

IV-25

January

23

, 1977

IV-26

January

26

, 1977

IV-27

January

27

, 1977

IV-28

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IV-28

APPENDIX V
Cruise Reports

V-l

List of Cruises

Cruise Page

Ooeanus cruises 19 and 20 V-3

Vigilant cruise V-ll

Evergreen cruise V-12

Whitefoot cruise V-13

Bittersweet cruise V-14

Delaware II cruise DE 76-13 V-15

Delaware II cruise DE 77-01 V-19

Endeavor cruise EN-002 V-26

Endeavor cruise EN-003 V-29

Endeavor cruise EN-004 V-34

Endeavor cruise EN-005 (Prospectus) V-37

Intertidal Survey of Nantucket Island V-40

V-2

R/V OCEANUS CRUISES 19 AND 20

Argo Merchant Oil Spill Cruises: Samples for Hydrocarbon Analyses

John W. Farrington
Associate Scientist, Chemistry Department

and

John M. Teal
Senior Scientist, Biology Department

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

Participating Scientists
R/V Oceanus Cruise 19:

R/V Oceanus Cruise 20:

WHOI

USCG R&D Center

URI,GS0

ERCO

John W. Farrington, WHOI

John M. Teal, WHOI

Richard Jademac, USCG R&D Center

Ted Van Fleet, URI,GS0

John W. Farrington, WHOI
John M. Teal, WHOI
Neil Moseman, ERCO

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

U.S. Coast Guard

Research and Development Center

Groton, Connecticut

University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Oceanography
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

Energy Resources Company
185 Alewife Brook Parkway
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

V-3

Introduction

The intent of the sampling and preliminary sample treatment was to allow
analyses for detecting high levels of oil contamination from the Avgo Merchant
oil spill, or to provide background data prior to the arrival of spilled oil in
the area, eventually resulting in high concentrations in water and/or sediments.
High concentrations in this context are 50 micrograms/liter of water or more
and between 10 and 100 micrograms/gram dry weight of sediment or more, depending
on sediment type.

The personnel participating in the cruises were fully aware that the gear
being used was not optimal for obtaining samples for low level hydrocarbon
analyses in water. Suitable sampling devices were not available at the time of
the cruise.

Special Samples - R/V Ooeanus Cruise 20

One sample of OC 20/13 surface tar at station 13 was obtained by stainless
steel bucket. This sample was scraped from the bucket with a stainless steel
spatula rinsed with ethanol. The tar was transferred to a 0.32-ounce, pre-
cleaned glass jar with aluminum foil cap. After equilibrating with the main
laboratory temperature the tar flowed like honey down the jar, coating its in-
side. Total volume of tar was about 100 milliliters.

Two vials of R/V Ooeanus fuel were obtained for passive tagging comparison
in the event samples were contaminated with the ship's fuel.

Sediment Sampling and Storage Procedure

2
Sediment samples were taken with a 1/25 m Van Veen grab sampler mounted

on a circular based frame, which insures perpendicular penetration. The
sampler was lowered near the bottom at about 10 meters/minute until the sheave
on the winch post slacked. The sampler was gently drawn out and returned to
deck at 10 to 20 meters/minute. Once on deck, the grab was lowered to rest on
a stainless steel bucket that had been precleaned with sea water and several
rinses of ^100 milliliters each of ethanol from a polyethylene squeeze bottle.
The grab was emptied into the bucket by opening the top doors and forcing the
sediment out the bottom of the one-third to one-half opened grab with a stain-
less steel bucket and subsampled. About two one-quarter portions of the
sample were placed in glass jars with aluminum foil lined caps, with aluminum
foil placed in them between the glass jar and the cap. These operations were
all conducted on the main deck of R/V Ooeanus near the starboard access hatch
to the main laboratory. The samples were then placed in the main laboratory
in a freezer maintained at -10 to -20°C. After return to Woods Hole the
samples were transferred to another chest freezer in the barn freezer storage
area at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and maintained at -10 to -20°C.

The jars these sediments were stored in had been precleaned prior to the
cruise as follows: soap wash, water rinse, acetone rinse, and distilled
pentane rinse.

V-4

Water Sampling and Storage Procedure

Samples were obtained from a rosette sampling system consisting of 30-
liter G/0 bottles, a temperature sensor, and a transmissometer . Details can
be obtained from Dave Folger, USCG, Woods Hole, or John Milliman, Geology and
Geophysics Department, WHOI.

Approximately 3-liter water samples were drawn from the 30-liter G/0
bottles directly into a brown glass 1-gallon bottle. These bottles had
previously contained glass distilled petroleum ether, n-hexane, or nanograde
methylene chloride. After the samples had been drawn from the G/0 bottle on
the fantail of the Ooeanus, the 1-gallon bottles were carried into the main
laboratory. Within 30 minutes, 100 milliliters of nanograde methylene
chloride were added to the sample, and the sample shaken by hand in a hori-
zontal position for 1 minute as determined by the main laboratory clock. The
samples were then allowed to sit for 20 to 60 minutes. The water was then
emptied via a 500-milliliter graduated cylinder, which was used to measure the
water volume. The water-CH2Cl2 interface and methylene chloride were emptied
into either 16- or 32-ounce jars. The bottle was rinsed with 20 to 30 milli-
liters of CH2CI2 and the rinse added to the sample extract in the 16- or 32-
ounce jar. The CHUClo extract plus water interface was capped with foil
between the cap and the glass jar and sample extract.

Several of the water samples were saved for extraction efficiency testing
with the (approximately) 3 liters of water and 100 millilters of CH Cl~ in the
1-gallon brown jug. The samples and sample extracts were stored at room
temperature.

Several blanks were obtained during the two cruises. These consisted of
adding 100 milliliters of CH2CI2 to 1-gallon empty bottles and shaking for 1
minute, pouring off CH2CI2 of 16- or 30-ounce jars, and then rinsing the
bottle with 20 to 30 milliliters of CRJZl .

A sample of deck washings from R/V Ooeanus was taken by running seawater
over the deck and collecting this water as it ran off over the side. This
sample of about 2.5 liters was poured from a stainless steel bucket into a 1-
gallon brown bottle, and 100 millilters of CH2C19 were added. This sample was
deemed necessary due to rain and melted snow runnoff from the deck at several
points during cruise 20.

V-5

Sediment Samples for Hydrocarbon Analyses

R/V Oceanus Cruise 19

Station 1 Water depth = 81-82 meters

Three grab samples • — labeled sample 1, sample 2, sample 3.
Two 32-ounce jars of sediment each grab. Quantity of
sediment in jars varied depending on grab size.

Station 2 Water depth = 125 meters

Two grab samples — labeled sample 1 and sample 2. Two
32-ounce jars of sediment from each grab. Quantity of
sediment in jars varied depending on grab size.

R/V Oceanus Cruise 20

Station 1 Water depth = 21.5 meters

Three grabs (A,B,C); two 32-ounce jars sediment from each grab.

Station 2 Water depth = 28 meters

Three grabs (A,B,C); one 64-ounce jar of sediment from each
grab.

Station 3 Water depth = 38 meters

Three grabs (A,B,C); one 64-ounce jar of sediment from each
grab.

Station 4 Water depth = ? (see USGS records)

Three grabs (A,B,C); two 32-ounce jars of sediment from each
grab.

Station 5 Water depth = ? (see (USGS records)

Three grabs (A,B,C); two 32-ounce jars of sediment from each grab,

Station 6 Water depth = 85 meters

One grab (A); two 32-ounce jars of sediment. Grab broke and no
more grabs were taken at this station.

Station 13 Water depth = 40 meters

Three grabs (A,B,C); two 32-ounce jars of sediment from
each grab.

Station 14 Water depth = 42 meters

Three grabs (A,B,C); two 32-ounce jars of sediment from each
grab.

Station 3

Grab C — 1 clam in grab removed and stored separately.

NOTE: At stations 13 and 14 tar lumps were noted at surface. No obvious
tar on grab sample or near it coming out of water into the water.
However, it was dark and visibility was limited.

V-6

Water samples for oil analyses
R/V Oceanus Cruise 19

Sample

Depth of sample
(meters)

Water depth
(meters)

Extracted
sea water
volume

Notes

Station 1

Surface-total

Surface-filtered

Mid-depth- total

Mid-depth-filtered

Bottom-total

Bottom-filtered

Station 2

Surface-total

Surface-filtered

Mid-depth-total

Mid-depth-filtered

Bottom-total

Bottom-filtered

Station 3

Surface-total

Surface-filtered
Mid-depth- total
Mid-depth- filtered
Bottom-total

0
0
50
50
91
91

0

74

74

144

144

0
100
100
150

81-82

140

3040 ml

1

3150 ml

1

2475 ml

1

3140 ml

1

2905 ml

1

3055 ml

1

Saved for

2

extraction

effic. test

it

2

it

2

ii

2

it

2

3040 ml

3

Saved for

2

extraction

effic. test

ii

2

it

2

ii

2

ii

2

Blanks #1, #2, #3

100 ml CH„Cl2 in 32 oz. jar with aluminum foil between cap and glass
jar. 100 ml GH2Cl2 was poured into 1-gallon glass jugs, shaken as if sample
was present and poured off to the mason jars.

V-7

Water samples for oil analyses (continued)
R/V Ooeanus Cruise 20

Sample

Depth of sample'
(meters)

Water depth
(meters)

Extracted
sea water
volume

Notes

Station 1

Surface-total
Surface-filtered

Mid-depth- total

Mid-depth-filtered

Bottom-total

Bottom-filtered

10
10
21.5

21.5

21.5

3625 ml

4.

Saved for

2.

extraction

effic. test

3625 ml

4.

2410 ml

4.

Saved for

extraction

effic. test

2675 ml

4.

Station 2

Surface-total

Surface-filtered

Mid-depth-total

Mid-depth filtered

Bottom-total

Bottom-filtered

0
0
10
10
26
26

28

3000 ml

4. ,5

2882 ml

4.

3360 ml

4.

3077 ml

4.

3376 ml

4.

2655 ml

4.

Station 3

Surface-total

Mid-depth-total

Bottom-total

0
25
37

3438 ml
3170 ml
3420 ml

Station 4

Surface-total
Mid-depth- total
Bottom-total
Bottom-filtered

0
20
44
44

3500 ml

4

3865 ml

4

3550 ml

4

3045 ml

4

Station 5

Surface

Mid-depth- total
Bottom-total

Sample missed due to G/0 bottle pre-trip
40 2965 ml 4.

65 3600 ml 4.

V-8

Water samples for oil analysis (continued)
R/V Ooeanus Cruise 20

Sample

Depth of sample
(meters)

Water depth
(meters)

Extracted
sea water
volume

Notes

Station 6

Surface-total
Mid-depth- total
Mid-depth-filtered
Bottom-total
Bottom-filtered

0
60
60

84
84

85

3525 ml

4

3220 ml

4

3160 ml

4

3635 ml

4

3135 ml

4

Station 13

Surface-total
Mid -depth- total
Bottom-total

0
20
40

40

3015 ml

4

2975 ml

4

3350 ml

4

Station 14

Surface-total

Surface-filtered

Mid-depth-total

Bottom-total

Bottom-filtered

0

0

20

40
40

42

Saved for
extraction
effic. test

Blank #1

100 ml CH2CI2 rinse of gallon jug after use for surface sample Ooeanus
20/1 surface total.

a.

See USGC sampling log sheet (see next page) . Discrepancies in depth
due to wire angle, which can be corrected for by calculations using
rosette-transmissometer at USGS, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

1. Stored in 16 oz. glass mason jars.

2. Stored as water sample over CH2C12 in one-gallon brown glass bottle
and saved for extraction efficiency test.

3. Stored in 32 oz. glass mason jars.

4. Stored in 8 oz. glass jars.

5. Surface sample had suspended particulates visible in it as fine
dispersion even after shaking with CH2C12 and settling time of
30 minutes.

V-9

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V-10

USCGC VIGILANT CRUISE
DECEMBER 24-25, 1976

Elaine Chan, of the NOAA/USCG SOR team, was lowered to the USCGC Vigilant
from an H-3 helicopter on December 24, 1976. Ms. Chan brought Sterile Bag
Samplers and sampling bags, and instructed the Commanding Officer, Cmdr. I.
Cruikshank, and the MSO in the operation of the samplers. From 1245 that day
until 0845 on Christmas Day, personnel from the Vigilant obtained 24 water
samples. The samples were taken in pairs, one each at approximately 1 to 2
feet below the surface, and the other at about 10 feet below the surface. At
0900 on December 25, 1976, all 24 samples were flown by helicopter to the
Coast Guard Cape Cod Air station. With the exception of two samples, which
were intercepted by USCG legal personnel, the samples were picked up by NOAA
personnel and kept in frozen storage until transported to the USCG R&D Center
in Groton, Connecticut, for analysis.

The sampling stations (two samples per station) are listed below.

Station

Lati

tude (N)

No.

deg

min

1

41

01.3

2

41

01.5

3

41

01.4

4

41

01.4

5

41

00.0

6

40

58.5

7

41

01.6

8

41

01.8

9

41

03.0

10

41

02.0

11

41

01.3

12

41

01.9

Longitude (W)
deg min

69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
69

22.0
24.3
25.8
26.1
25.5
24.0
28.6
29.7
34.0
27.7
27.0
26.3

Date

12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/24/76
12/25/76
12/25/76
12/25/76

Time

1245
1355
1418
1432
1456
1520
1735
1800
1845
0708
0800
0845

V-ll

USCGC EVERGREEN CRUISE
DECEMBER 22-28, 1976

The USCG R&D Center's research vessel Evergreen proceeded to the area
covered by the Argo Merchant oil slick on December 22, 1976. Sediment
samples and bottom photographs were taken at five stations in order to
evaluate the potential for bottom contamination, and 20 water samples were
taken using Sterile Bag Samplers. These samples were all analyzed by the
common analytical network established at the January 3-4, 1977, meeting at
Woods Hole.

Station locations and other information are given below.

Station

Latitud

s (N)

Long

itud

e (W)

No.

water

No

. sediment

No. bottom

No.

deg

41

min
7.0

deg

69

min
56.0

samples
4

samples

photos

A

4

1

B

40

52.0

69

35.0

4

4

1

C

40

58.0

69

08.0

4

4

1

D

40

45.0

68

25.0

4

4

1

E

40

55.0

67

56.0

4

4

0

V-12

WHITEFOOT CRUISE
DECEMBER 28-29, 1976

Under the direction of B. Butman of USGS , the charter vessel Wliitefoot ,
in addition to participating in the emplacement of the current meters
described in Section 2, obtained three sediment samples using a Van Veen
grab. These samples were sent to the USCG R&D Center for analysis. The
sample locations are given below.

Station Latitude (N) Longitude (W) No. sediment
No. deg min deg min samples

1 40 59.0 69 59.0 1

2 40 58.0 69 29.0 1

3 40 56.5 69 26.0 1

V-13

USCGC BITTERSWEET CRUISE
DECEMBER 29, 1976

Prior to relieving the USCGC Vigilant on-scene at the Argo Merchant
wreck, LCDR Overath, Commanding Officer of the Bittersweet, was briefed by
Elaine Chan in the operation of Sterile Bag Samplers. On December 29, 1976,
LCDR Bebeau of the Bittersweet obtained 10 water samples in the vicinity of
the wreck. Two samples were taken at each of five stations; one sample at a
depth of approximately one times the wave height, the other at a depth equal
to twice the wave height. These samples were flown to Cape Cod by helicopter,
and kept frozen until analyzed at the USCG R&D Center. Sample stations and
depths are given below.

Station

Latitude (N)

Longn

tude (W)

Depths

No.

deg
41

min
01.3

deg
69

min
28.7

ft

1

5/10

2

41

00.5

69

30.5

6/12

3

41

01.4

69

30.0

6/12

4

41

03.0

69

28.0

6/12

5

41

03.5

69

29.9

4/8

V-14

DELAWARE II CRUISE DF 76-13
DECEMBER 22-24, 1976

The NOAA ship Delaware II sailed from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on
December 22, 1976, to the vicinity of the oil spill from the Avgo Merchant,
aground on Fishing Rip, and returned to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, on December 24,
1976.

Scientific Personnel

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Henry Jensen, Chief of Party

Peter Gibb

Rhett Lewis

Gordon Waring

Paul Loiseau

Frank Aimed ia

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Narragansett , Rhode Island

Ron Boisvert
Gary Carter
Joe Kane
Kevin McCarthy

Obj ectives

The objectives of the cruise were to sample the fish and associated
invertebrate and plankton populations in the vicinity of the oil spill, and
to obtain samples of fish from outside the area of the oil slick to be used
as controls for fish to be caught later in the same area. Additional objec-
tives were to obtain oil, water, and sediment samples and to observe any
obvious effects of oil on birds and mammals in the area.

Operations

The cruise was conducted as scheduled. Eleven stations, shown in the
accompanying figure, were completed; six were occupied with miscellaneous
gear, and four with bathythermograph drops and surface water samples only.
Station positions were occupied at the boundary of the slick as reported by
the U.S. Coast Guard, who made aerial observations on the day of departure.
Three gear stations were occupied on each side of the southern border of the
slick. The surface of the water at station 9 (one of three stations located
within the slick) was not covered with oil at the time it was occupied.
Plankton, hydrographic, XBT, and sediment samples were obtained from both
inside and outside the slick. Two trawl stations were made outside the slick
to obtain fish without contamination from floating oil for miscellaneous
studies. All data were recorded in Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise

V-15

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V-16

noted. General information on the various gear, samples, and observations is
given below, including preliminary on-ship observations regarding the impact,
if any, of the oil. Type of samples, data disposition, and other detailed
information is contained in the report on the second Delaware II cruise,
DE 77-01.

Observations

Water temperature profile. Stations: 1-11. Disposition of data: Woods
Hole. XBT probes were dropped at each station prior to other sampling. Tem-
peratures were nearly isothermal between 5°C in the shoals and 7°C in deeper
waters.

Meteorological Observations. Stations: 1-11. Disposition of data:
Woods Hole. Observations (wind speed, barometric pressure, temperature, wave
height, etc.) were taken at all stations. Wind speed ranged from 12 to 27
knots; wave height, between 3 and 6 feet.

Surface water samples. Stations: 1-11. Disposition of samples: Woods
Hole. Samples taken at every station. There was noticeable oil on the surface
at stations 7 and 8, although oil was not apparent in samples. A surface oil
sample was taken at station 7, where the oil contained sand.

Oil slick observations. Stations: 1-11. Disposition of data: Woods Hole.
Oil was found at stations 7 through 8, and halfway to station 9 in 5- to 20-foot
wide patches occurring in rows from northwest to southeast. The oil resembled
floating black cloth, wrinkled from wave action. Other and more general obser-
vations (95 to 99% of this area) were the thin, greasy sheen with characteris-
tic prismatic phenomena and the odor, which was noticeable but not outstanding.

Fish samples. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of samples: Woods Hole.
A 15-minute tow at 3.5 knots using a Yankee #36 trawl without rollers and with
a 1/2-inch liner was made at both stations. All species were sorted, identi-
fied, and measured (fork length) where applicable. Approximately 20 species
of fish and 10 invertebrates were taken. An oil streak 1 by 2 inches was
noticed on a winter flounder at station 4. All other specimens appeared oil-
free.

Hydrocarbon samples. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of samples: Woods
Hole. Approximately 20 species of fish and 10 species of invertebrates were
frozen in foil-lined bags for hydrocarbon analysis.

Stomach analysis. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of samples. Woods
Hole. Stomachs from little skate, big skate, spiny dogfish, cod, windowpane,
and ocean pout were preserved in 10% formalin for food chain contamination
studies.

Maturation. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of data: Woods Hole. Gonad
development was observed and logged on standard maturation forms; no fish
were spawning. Various stages of ripening were observed in cod, long-horned
sculpin, and ocean pout.

V-17

Sonar Traces. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of traces: Woods Hole.
The 20- to 25-foot sand humps shown on the bottom trace of station 4 are
typical of the bottom on Nantucket shoals at a depth of 30 fathoms or less;
the relatively flat though rough bottom trace of station 6 is typical of the
channel area at 30 fathoms and greater.

Water column samples. Stations: 4, 5, 7, and 8. Disposition of samples:
Sandy Hook. The water bag sampler was used to collect water at 5 meters below
surface and 5 meters above bottom at stations 4, 5, and 7. At station 8, the
samples were collected at 5 and 15 meters below surface. Oil was not observed
in any of these samples.

Water column plankton samples. Stations: 4-9. Disposition of samples:
Narragansett. Bottom to surface bongo tows were made (20 and 61 centimeter
bongos) with 0.165, 0.253, 0.333, and 0.505 millimeter mesh nets. No oil
particles were noticed but there was probably surface oil contamination in
samples 8 and 9 from stations 7 and 8.

Surface plankton samples. Stations: 4-9. Disposition of samples:
Narragansett. Neuston samples (using 0.505-millimeter mesh) showed specks
of tar at stations 4, 5, 6, and 9; station 9 was possibly contaminated.
Stations 7 and 8 were made in the oil slick and the net soaked with oil was
saved in a can. Larval sand launce and hake were observed in the samples,
and Sagitta (arrow worms) comprised a large portion of the sample. Also,
eggs were observed in the station 9 sample.

Bottom biological samples. Stations: 4 and 6. Disposition of samples:
Woods Hole. A 25-centimeter ring net (mesh approximately 1 millimeter)
attached to the trawl headrope was used at trawl stations to sample smaller
organisms that escape the trawl. Catch was largely small Crustacea, which
were preserved in 10% formalin.

Bottom sediment samples. Stations: 4-9. Disposition of samples: Woods
Hole. Sediments obtained at station 4 by 4-inch pipe dredge were found to be
clean; at station 5 by bongos hitting bottom, were discarded, but noted to be
clean; at station 6 by pipe dredge were clean; at station 7 by bongos were
clean; at station 8 in small amounts, by Dietz Lafond grab, were clean; and
at station 9 using a Digby dredge contained shell fragments and were also
found to be clean. All sediments were stored dry.

Live samples. Station: 9. Disposition of samples: Milford. Approxi-
mately 20 hermit crabs, clams, and miscellaneous bivalves were secured using
a Digby dredge (small 2-foot wide dredge with ring bag and 1/2-inch liner).
A tow was made for 5 minutes at approximately 2-1/2 knots. Live samples were
maintained in running water. Specimens reached Sandy Hook in viable condi-
tion.

Vessels. No fishing vessels were sighted, probably due to the holiday
season. The Argo Merchant was observed at approximately 6 miles distance.
There were two Coast Guard vessels in the area, and two helicopters.

V-18

DELAWARE II CRUISE DE 77-01
JANUARY 4-10, 1977

The NOAA R/V Delaware II sailed from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on
January 4, 1977, and returned to Woods Hole on January 10, 1977. The area of
investigation was bounded on the north and west by latitude 41°30'N and long-
itude 70°00'W, and extended to the 150-fathom depth contour on the south and
east. This area was chosen to include clean zones for control stations on
all sides of the estimated oil slicks' s route. The oil slick was determined
by extending the boundary route of the available sightings as of January 3.
Additional stations were made east of Cape Cod and south of Nantucket Shoals
for the release of seabed drifters and additional control stations.

Scientific Personnel

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Henry Jensen, Chief Scientist
John Nicolas
Linda Despres
Eva Montiero

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Sandy Hook, New Jersey

John Ziskowski

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Milford, Connecticut

Randy Goodlet

Northeast Fisheries Center, NMFS, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Joseph Kane
Loretta Sullivan

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts

Graig Scharf

Objectives

The purpose of the cruise was to assess the condition of the fish stocks
and associated populations of invertebrates and plankton on the portions of
Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank through which the oil from the tanker
Argo Merchant had drifted. An additional objective was to obtain oil, water,
and sediment samples, and to observe the oil's effect on birds and mammals
of the area.

V-19

Delaware II station data

Delaware

11-76

-13

Depth-

Wave

Air

Surf^

Bot^

Date

Time

Wind

HRt

Temp

Temp

Temp

Station

Day

Month

Year

(EST)

Latitude Longitude (M)

Dir

Sp

(FT)

(6C)

(°C)

(°C)

1

22

12

76

1930

40°52'

70°20'

43

27

14

6

2.2

6.6

6.6

;

22

12

76

2000

40°49'

70°131

41

27

14

6

2.2

6.5

6.8

3

22

12

76

2130

40°43'

69°S3'

44

23

14

6

3.3

4.7

4.8

4

22

12

76

2328

40°49'

69° 30'

44

24

18

6

4.4

5.7

S.7

5

23

12

76

0209

40°47'

69°18'

SO

23

14

5.6

6.3

6.3

6

23

12

76

0317

40°43'

69°05'

84

24

IS

6.7

6.7

6.8

7

2 3

12

76

0651

40°48'

69°04'

79

12

8

6.7

7.0

7.9

8

23

12

76

0904

40°S2'

69°14'

61

12

2

7.2

7.0

-

9

23

12

76

1219

40°56'

69°30'

44

18

6

8.3

6.1

6.1

10

23

12

76

1415

40°50'

69°44'

31

27

8

6.1

S.O

5.0

11

23

12

76

1520

40°46'

70°03'

39

27

5

6.1

5.0

5.6

Delaware

II - 77-

01

1

4

01

77

19S8

42°07-

70°131

59

32

25

2

2.2

3.2

3.8

2

4

01

77

2143

42°00'

69°S7'

40

32

24

3.3

3.9

4.0

3

4

01

77

2345

41°49

69°S2'

46

32

25

3.3

4.0

4.7

4

5

01

77

0135

41°48'

69°50

75

34

2S

2.8

4.2

5.3

5

5

01

77

0415

41°37

69°43

40

36

26

3.9

4.6

4.7

6

5

01

77

0610

41°27

69° 34

30

34

25

3.3

4.7

5.2

7

5

01

77

0835

41°22

69° 30

32

36

24

2.8

4.7

4.7

8

5

01

77

1115

41°14

69° 13

84

34

20

3.3

6.S

6.5

9

5

01

77

1330

41°23

69° 10

144

36

15

3.9

6.6

7.1

in

5

01

77

1608

41°22

68°51

126

36

14

4.4

6.7

7.1

11

5

01

77

1800

41°27

6 8° 39

96

33

8

3.3

6.6

6.8

12

5

01

77

2112

41°22

68°1S

50

32

15

3.3

5.4

5.8

13

5

01

77

2340

41°17

67°57

3S

32

10

2.8

5.5

6.1

14

6

01

77

0105

41°10

67° 38

51

34

10

4.4

5.4

6.4

15

6

01

77

0250

41°15

67°24

49

35

16

3.9

5.7

5.8

16

6

01

77

0450

41°26

67°22

44

36

14

4.4

6.0

6.1

17

6

01

77

0737

41°21

66°57

66

03

20

J. 9

5.9

5.9

18

6

01

77

0945

41°27

66°42

66

01

20

2.8

6.3

6.5

19

6

01

77

1215

41°10

66°55

70

03

17

3.9

6.1

S.8

20

6

01

77

1420

40°53

66°58

89

03

16

4.4

7.7

6.7

21

6

01

77

1610

40°42

66°51

220

03

12

2.8

7.1

8.7

22

6

01

77

1742

40°43

66°57

143

OS

10

2.2

8.4

9.1

23

6

01

77

2100

40°31

67°21

143

05

8

2.2

6.8

10.3

24

6

01

77

2333

40°45

67°21

97

36

-

2.2

6.7

6.9

25

7

01

77

0150

41°02

67°19

68

13

5

2.8

6.2

5.9

26

7

01

77

0335

41°01

67°35

64

11

12

2.8

S.3

5.7

27

7

01

77

0505

41°04

67°45

54

10

8

3.9

5.3

6.1

28

7

01

77

0623

41°06

67°53

49

10

20

5.0

S.l

5.2

29

8

01

77

2037

40°46

69°57

26

32

18

0.6

4.1

4.1

30

8

01

77

2233

40° 56

* 69°46

' 35

32

16

-2.2

4.1

4.5

31

8

01

77

2353

41°06

• 69°S6

1 31

31

18

-2.2

S.4

5.4

32

9

01

77

0153

40°56

69°34

1 39

31

20

-1.7

4.7

4.9

33

9

01

77

0405

40°41

69°41

' 52

30

18

-2.2

5.4

5.4

34

9

01

77

0618

40°40

' 69°26

' 53

29

20

1.7

S.7

5.7

35

9

01

77

0833

40°37

' 69°08

■ 72

32

16

0.0

6.S

6.5

36

9

01

77

1030

40°42

■ 68°56

' 67

29

20

0.0

S.9

5.9

37

9

01

77

1300

40°51

• 69°10

• 63

31

16

-1.1

5.4

5.5

38

9

01

77

141S

41°01

• 69°19

' 58

32

12

-1.1

5.7

5.8

39

9

01

77

1530

41°02

69°15

• 56

32

6

-1.1

6.3

6.3

10

9

01

77

2000

41°03

• 70°20

• 27

29

9

-2.2

1.6

2.0

4!

9

01

77

2100

41°06

• 70°33

' 42

27

8

-2.2

4.0

4.0

42

9

01

77

2200

41°09

70°43

' 37

90

8

-1.1

4.0

4.0

43

9

01

77

2300

41°16

70°52

• 24

07

16

-1.7

2.1

2.1

'Depth, surface and bottom temperature as recerded from XBT Trace

V-20

Samples taken on Delaware II cruises 76-13 and 77-01

SAMPLE

TYPE OF

SA/fPU"

SAMPLER

SHIP'S
SPEED

TIME

AREA
SAMTLED

NO.
STA

NO.
SAMP

CONTAINER

METHOD
PRESERV

INITIAL NVFS
DISPOSITION PACE

STATION DAT*

Water temp

Teap/depth

XBT

Stopped

-

"ator col

S4

S4

-

XRT trace

Woods Hole 4

BOTTOM CURRENT
Dri fters

Current

Seabed
drifter

Bottoa

43

41

Woods Hole s

PLANKTON

Surf plankton

Plankton

5x1a
Neuston

2-4 knots

10 aln

Surface

44

44

Qt jar

Foraalin

Narragansett 6

Water col plankton

Plankton

61 ca
.SOS Bongo

61 c.
. 333' Bongo

20 c»
. 2S3 Bongo

20 ca
. 16S Bongo

2-3 knots

5-12 aln

£110 fa

39

22
22

36
36
22

20

»

"

" 6

6

" 6

" 6

Benthtc plankton

30 ca
1.0 Ring net

3.S knots

15 ain

Bottoa

26

21

Woods Hole 6

HYDRO SAMPLES

Hydro (surface)

Chlorophyll
Nutrients

S.O liter
Nisken bottle

3.S knots

;

1 a below

IS
IS

11
13

Milll filter
125 al

Froten

Narragansett 7

7

(■id)

Chlorophyll
Nutrients

"

-

Mid-depth

IS
IS

13
IS

Milll filter
125 al

" 7
" 7

(bottoa)

Chlorophyll
Nutrients

»

"

1 a above

2
2

1

2

Milll filter
12S al

»

" 7

" 7

Sterile Hydro
(surface)

Hydrocarbon

2.0 liter
Nisken bag

Stopped

.

5 a below

4

4

Sterile
Plastic bag

Woods Hole 8

(bottoa)

-

5 m above

4

4

••

8

Surface water

Salinity

Bucket

Variable

-

Surface

S4

S4

125 al

-

8

SEDIMENT SAMPLES

Renthic sediments

(Unsorted)
Sediment

9 ca
Pipe dredge

3.S knots

IS aln

Bottoa

23

17

Ot Jar

Air dry

Woods Hole 8

(Sorted)
Sediment

Digby dredge

2.0 knots

10 aln

10

9

"

8

BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Trawl i'

•Flesh

•36 Yankee

3.5 kneta

15 ain

Bottoa

26

86

Foil

Froten

Woods Hole 9,10TI4

Fish

Pathology

"

»

26

21

Glass jar

Formalin

Oxford 9.10-14

Biochemistry

"

"

"

»

26

14

Plastic bag

Froten

Mil ford 9,10-14

i;2S» sweep
13 «n liner

Stomachs
Maturi ty
Behavior

"

»

■•

"

26
26
26

40
39

1

Qt jar
Live tank

Formalin
Mat. log

Live

Woods Hole 9,10-14
9,10-14
9,10-14

Trawl

Benthic

Yankee

3.S knots

15 aln

Bottoa

26

3

Qt jar

Foraalin

Woods Hole 8.9.1S-18

Invertebrates

•Flesh

»

26

26

Foil

Frozen

8,9,15-/8

Pathology

"

»

26

2B

Glass jar

Foraalin

Oxford 8,9,15-18

Biochemistry
Behavior

"

-

26

26

18
3

Plastic bag
Live tank

Froten

Milford 8,9,15-18

Woods Hole 8.9.1S-18
5 Milford

Dredge?/

Benthic

Dlgby dredge

2.0 knots

10 aln

Bottoa

10

9

Qt jar

Foraalin

Woods Hole 8,9,1S-18

Invertebrates

•Flesh

"

"

10

7

Foil

Froten

8,9,15-18

2/7Sx22 ca
13aa liner

Pathology

Biochemistry

..

..

..

..

10
10

13

2

Glass jar
Plastic bag

Foraalin
Froten

Oxford B, 9, 15-18
Milford 8.9,15-18

Miscellaneous

Behavior
Benthic

9 ca
Pipe dredge

3.S knots

15 ain

Bottoa

10
26

3
1

Live tank
ot jar

Live
Foraalin

Woods Hole 8,9,15-18
f. Milford

Woods Hole s

Invertebrates

»

0.5 liter grab
Diett-Ufond

Plankton

Stopped
Variable

(hit bottoa]

"

1
1

:

'•

8
" 8

•Whole specimens to be used primarily for hydrocarbon analysis

V-21

Operations

The cruise, originally scheduled for 10 days, was reduced by storms to
4 working days. All stations were preselected randomly. The stations on
the northern side of the slick boundary were given priority for use as controls
and also for establishing the present limits of any contamination. The sta-
tions on the eastern limits of the bank and the stations in the area of initial
impact around Nantucket shoals were also completed. The southern and mid-
sections of the sampling area were omitted.

Forty- three stations were completed. XBT and surface bucket thermometer
for temperature and salinity samples were used at every station. Five seabed
drifters were released at each station, except stations 27 and 39. The #36
Yankee trawl, with a ring net and pipe dredge attached, was used at 24 stations,
The Digby dredge was used at nine stations. At six of the trawl stations and
at all the Digby stations, a hydrocast was made. Neuston plankton gear was
used through station 38. The 61-centimeter bongos were used through station
39, while the 20-centimeter bongos were used in the western part of the study
area only (stations 1-11 and 29-39) .

The general information on these samplers, their use, and the information
on the samples taken, is presented in tabular form. This includes informa-
tion on the samples taken during both Delaware II cruises: 76-13, December
22-23; and 77-01, January 4-10. Also provided is information concerning the
types of samples, station plots, data disposition, and the like.

Bird, Mammal, and oil slick observations were made by an observer from
the Manomet Bird Observatory and other scientists aboard the Delaware II.
Oil samples from the engine fuel, the winch hydraulic system, the side of
the vessel, and from the oil slick were taken (disposition: Woods Hole).
All data were recorded in Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

Results

Preliminary on-ship observations showed clean fish, sediment, and water
throughout the area surveyed, except at stations 37-39, which were in the
vicinity of the wreck and showed some oil (estimated at less than 0.1%) on
the surface. All samples await detailed examination.

R. Wigley of the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole, collected
samples of surficial bottom sediments from the R/V Delaware II during two
cruises conducted shortly after the Argo Merchant grounding. The first sam-
ples were collected in December 1976 at two stations, 4 and 6, on cruise 76-
13. In early January 1977, a series of 23 samples was collected on cruise
77-01. The location of each sample is plotted in the accompanying figure.
The samples were collected by means of a pipe dredge and a Digby dredge.
Samples were stored in glass containers; sediment volume ranged from appro-
ximately 50 to 750 cubic centimeters. Each sample was analyzed microscopi-
cally for tar-balls or other evidence of the presence of oil or oil-like
substances. Dominant components of the sediments were found to be sand,

V-22

o
OJ

o
O

o

CD

CD

o

CD

CD

00

CM

o

00

CD

</)

1^ N

LU

<y> h-

O)

— O

3

ro ..
CJ o

o

CVJ '

CJ t

—

d z:

UJ

UJ <

Q -3

GC

<

ro —

5

— O
i i

<

CD h-

-j

Is- r--

UJ
Q

O •

c
O

IO °

CVJ CVJ

•

';•

t # rvj

•

CVJ ^

'.

CVJ

oo

o

CO

CD

i^ CVJ

CD

ro

00

.. • ro cdO

ro

CD'

0>

ro

ro

O

0>
CVJ

ro

.0°

o
O

o
O

CO

00
•H

13

O
>> I

0)
.-H

ro

o I

o ^o

co

CD CO

ex co

E3 -h

cti 3

CO J-i
CJ

•u

c H

cu H
6

00

T3
<D
CO

6 ^
O Q)

4-1

o

<4-l

o

CO

c
o

•H
■U
CO
o

O
►J

V-23

pebbles, and mollusk shell fragements. These components, plus some of the
less common xtems, are listed for each station in the table below

No evidence of any oil-like substance was detected in any of the samples
Through arrangements made by G. Kelly, NMFS , and G. Heimerdinger, EDS, these
samples were then forwarded to the USCG Research and Development Center
Groton, Connecticut, for screening.

Surficial bottom sediments collected on Delaware II cruises

by R. Wigley, NMFS

Station

Gear

Remarks

Cruise

77-01

(23 Samples)

4

Digby dredge

Arctia

shell and worm tubes .

6

Pipe dredge

Coarse

brown sand.

7

Coarse

brown sand.

10

Medium

to fine sand with silt-clay.

11

Coarse

sand. Slight amount of silt-clay.

12

Coarse

sand, clean, pale brown.

14

Fine sand, light gray.

18

Medium

sand, medium brown. Slight amount

of silt-clay.

20 Digby dredge Shell fragments 1/4 to 5 centimeters, and

black rock about 5 by 7 centimeters.
Venericardia, Astarte, Arctica, Onuphis .

Medium to coarse sand, medium brown.

Shells and skate egg. Astarte, Apporhais,
Arctica, Dentalium Placopecten. Some live.

Medium-fine sand, greenish brown. Small
amount silt-clay.

Large shells. Arctica, Colus stimpsoni,
Lunatia heros, Placopecten. Clinker 5 by
7-1/2 centimeters. Crangon-decaying .

26 " Large shells. Arctica, Buccinum, Balanus

crenatus, Echinarachnius . Trace of fine
sand. Pagurus acadianus .

V-24

21

Pipe dredge

22

Digby dredge

23

Pipe dredge

25

Digby dredge

Surficial bottom sediments collected on Delaware IT cruises by
R. Wigley, NMFS (continued)

Station

Gear

Remarks

Cruise 77-01

29

31

34
35

36

38

39

Pipe dredge

Digby dredge

Pipe dredge

Digby dredge

Fine sand, light gray.

Medium sand 15% small mollusk fragments ,
pale brown.

Two Arctica shells 5 to 10 centimeters. One
Echinarachnius 1-1/4 centimeters.

Coarse sand, brown. Small (1/4 to 1 centi-
meter) pebbles, brown. Shells Placopecten.
Hydroids.

Medium-coarse sand. Few small (1/8 to 1
centimeters) pebbles, medium-brown.

Pebbles (1/8 to 3-1/2 centimeter) , black to
white. Sand, wide range in size, black to
white. Mollusk shell fragements, 3%.

Pebbles (1/8 to 6 centimeters) white to black,
Coarse-medium sand, brown-white to black.
Shells. Venericardia, Spisula, Placopeten.
Strongly locentrotus , fresh dead, 7 milli-
meter in diameter. Amaroucium ?, 2 pieces
5 to 10 centimeters.

27
28

Pipe dredge

Cruise 76-13 (2 Samples)

Medium-fine sand, pale brown, Echinarachnius
shell fragments, well rounded.

Medium-fine sand, pale brown. < 1% shell
fragments. 1 to 2 pebbles, 1 to 10
millimeters.

Pipe dredge
Digby dredge

Fine sand, light gray.

Shell fragements 1/2 to 5 centimeters, white,
clean. Crepidula fornicata, Echinarachnius .
Crassotrea, Nassarius trivittatus. Small

(1/2 centimeter) pebbles.
Ensis, Astarte.

Anomia, Spisula

V-25

R/V ENDEAVOR CRUISE EN-002
DECEMBER 28-30, 1976

Graduate School of Oceanography
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

The R/V Endeavor departed Quonset, Rhode Island, at 1800 on December 28,
1976, and returned to Quonset at 1900 on December 30, 1976. Funding was pro-
vided by the National Science Foundation.

Scientific Personnel

James G. Quinn, Chief Scientist, GSO, URI

Mason Wilson, Co-Investigator, Mechanical Engineering, URI

Peter Cornillon, Co-Investigator, Ocean Engineering, URI

Malcolm Spaulding, Co-Investigator, Ocean Engineering, URI

Chris Brown, Co-Investigator, Chemistry, URI

Mark Ahmadjian, Research Assistant, Chemistry, URI

Pat Lynch, Research Assistant, Chemistry, URI

David Shonting, Co-Investigator, Naval Underwater Systems Center, Newport

Robert Morton, Co-Investigator, Naval Underwater Systems Center, Newport

Charles Finkelstein, Co-Investigator, Kline Associates, New Hampshire

Sheldon Pratt, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI

Dana Kester, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI

Doug Huizenga, Graduate Student, GSO, URI

Skip French, Graduate Student, GSO, URI

Eva Hoffman, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI

Joseph Kane, Technician, NMFS, Narragansett

William Hahn, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Ted Benttinen, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Objective

The objective was to investigate the effect of the Arqo Merchant oil
spill on Nantucket Shoals and surrounding waters.

Summary of Research Program

The following scientific programs were carried out during this cruise:

(1) Plankton and neuston samples were collected from surface waters
using plankton and bongo nets. These samples will be analyzed for species
abundance and diversity.

(2) Water samples were collected from depths of 1 meter, 6 meters, and
the bottom, using 5-liter Niskin bottles. These samples will be analyzed
for total hydrocarbons, oil droplet size distribution, total organic carbon,
nutrients, temperature (°C) , salinity (o/oo), pH, 02, particulate trace
metals, and total suspended material.

V-26

(3) Benthic samples were collected using a Smith-Mclntyre grab sampler.
These samples will be analyzed for species abundance and diversity and
sedimentary hydrocarbons.

(4) Side scanning sonar measurements were taken as the ship approached
station 1.

(5) One array of three current meters was released at the beginning of
station 2.

The cruise tract followed is given in the accompanying figure. The lo-
cations of the stations occupied are tabulated along with information on the
samples collected at these stations.

Total cruise occupied 49 hours, of which approximately 9 hours (18%)
were devoted to station time. Total distance: ^300 miles.

42* N

4l#N

STATION LOCATIONS

R/V ENDEAVOR CRUISE 002

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLANO

70°W

G0°W

V-27

Endeavor Cruise EN-002 - sample locations and information

Station

Samples or

Date

Time

Loran-C

No.

operation

(Dec. *76)

1

Side scan sonar in

29

0130

38035.9
49350.1

1

Plankton tow 1

ii

0254

38033.8
49340.6

1

Plankton tow 2

ii

0301

38035.1
49341.4

1

Side scan sonar out

ii

0313

38039.9
49342.2

1

Sediment grab 1

ii

0413

38032.2
49344.2

1

Sediment grab 2

n

0433

38032.2
49344.6

1

Sediment grab 3

ii

0455

38033.1
49347.6

1

Hydrocast 1 (5-
liter Niskins, 1 m,
6 m, bottom)

ii

0455

38033.1
49347.6

1

Hydrocast 2 (5-liter
Niskins, 1 m, 6m,
bottom)

ii

0547

38031.4
49346.0

1

Neuston tow

ti

0707

38031.2
49346.1

1

Bongo net tow

it

0750

38049.9
49363.9

2

Current meter array
deployed

ii

1420

37663.5
49219.2

2

Hydrocast (5-liter
Niskins, 1 m, 6m)

ii

1514

37666.9
49218.8

2

Sediment grab 1

ii

1600

37650.6
49213.2

2

Sediment grab 2

ti

1610

37650.6
49213.2

2

Sediment grab 3

ti

1620

37650.6
49213.2

2

Sediment grab 4

ii

1630

37650.6
49213.2

2

Plankton tow

ii

1650

37648.0
49211.6

2

Neuston tow

ii

1700

37648.0
49211.6

2

Bongo net tow

M

1710

37648.0
49211.6

3

Surface water
sample

ii

2005

37416.8
49234.3

V-28

R/V ENDEAVOR CRUISE EN-003
JANUARY 26-29, 1977

Graduate School of Oceanography

University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

The R/V Endeavor departed Quonset, Rhode Island, at 1100, January 26, for
Nantucket Shoals and surrounding waters, and returned to Quonset at 1600,
January 29, 1977. Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (proposed), and by the Energy Research and Development Agency.

Scientific Personnel

Eva J. Hoffman, Chief Scientist, GSO, URI

Peter Cornillon, Co-Investigator, OE, URI

Dick Jadamec, Co-Investigator, Research Chemist, U.S. Coast Guard

Edward Myers, Co-Investigator, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admini-

tration
Andrea Hurtt, Graduate Student, GSO, URI
Sheldon Pratt, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI
Jeff Hyland, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI
Charles Young, Technician, Mechanical Engineering, URI
Steven Buchanan, Marine Science Technician 2nd class, U.S. Coast Guard
F. Gene Franklin, Technician, Chemist, URI
Robert Bowen, Technician, Chemist, URI
Jim Hannon, Marine Technician, GSO, URI
Ted Benttinen, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Natalie Houghton, Co-Investigator (Birds) , Manoment Bird Observatory
Art Buddington, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Main Objectives

A. To determine whether and where oil from the Argo Merchant has
reached the bottom in the vicinity of the wreck and the result-
ing surface oil slick. This objective will be implemented by:

1. Collection of sediments, benthic organisms, and near-bottom
waters from a variety of locations, at various depths, with
various sediment types, and with varying times of surface
oil contamination.

2. Sediment and near -bottom water samples to be screened for
hydrocarbon content with shipboard instrumentation.

3. More extensive sampling of sediments, benthic organisms, and
near-bottom waters in areas shown by rapid screening to be
possibly contaminated with oil to determine the extent of
such contamination.

V-29

4. Later detailed analysis of sediment samples to determine
hydrocarbon levels in the sediment and to determine if
high concentrations of hydrocarbons found by shipboard
screening are specifically from the Argo Merchant.

B. To conduct a preliminary survey of the benthic community in the
oil spill area. The data will be used in conjunction with possible
long-term effect studies. This objective will be implemented by:

1. Collection and preservation of benthic organisms for use in
later long-term studies; more extensive sampling in areas
where the sediment has been shown by shipboard screening to
contain significant concentrations of hydrocarbons.

2. Collection of benthic organisms for later hydrocarbon analyses.

3. Collection of benthic organisms for histopathologic study.

4. Collection of oil-contaminated sediments and clean sediments
to be used in laboratory bioassay experiments, evaluating
possible impact of oil on winter flounder hatchability and
larval survival.

C. To determine to what extent oil has become entrained in the water
column which may be moving with subsurface currents. This objec-
tive will be implemented by:

1. Collection of seawater samples at a variety of locations in
the wreck vicinity at depths of 1 m, 6 m, and at the bottom
to be analyzed at URI for hydrocarbon content.

2. Collection of seawater samples to determine the oil droplet
size distribution.

D. To determine sea bird density and distribution in the oil spill
area, with possible future application to long-term studies.
This objective will be facilitated by:

1. Observations of sea bird density and distribution at each
station during daylight hours.

2. Observation of numbers and species of oiled birds and any
abnormal behavior patterns of these birds.

3. Collection of dead birds for later autopsy.

Ancillary Objectives

A. To determine how weathering changes the organic and inorganic
chemistry of Argo Merchant oil.

V-30

B. To check and perhaps retrieve a current meter array at EN-002 .

Sampling Station Selection Procedure

It is assumed that the following areas would be more likely to have
significant quantities of Argo Merchant oil in the sediments than other loca-
tions (in approximate order of importance) :

1. Areas whose sediments have been shown by chemical analysis to con-
tain significant quantities of Argo Merchant oil.

2. Areas covered by the slick for the longest periods of time.

3. Shallower areas.

4. Areas covered by the slick when the sea state was high.

5. Any area covered by the slick at any time.

6. Any area possibly affected by subsurface currents, which could carry
oil from slick areas to sediments a distance away from areas actually
covered by the slick.

NOTE: Difference in sediment type was not considered because the area
in question is quite uniform with regard to sediment type.

To date, none of the samples previously analyzed showed significant
quantities of oil in the sediments. By examination of NOAA-USCG slick maps,
two areas (referred to hereafter as Area A and Area B) were found to have
been covered with heavy oil pancake concentrations or consolidated slicks
bounded by 41°04'N and 40°54»N latitude and 69°35.2'W and 69°07*W longitude.
Area B is an area where heavy concentrations of oil pancakes and slick
stalled for 6 days before continuing to head east. Area B is bounded by
40°58'N and 40°33*N latitude and 68°53'W and 68°04'W longitude.

With plans to collect sediments and water samples at a maximum of 50
stations, 30 of these stations were randomly distributed within Areas A & B.
Since Area A covers 210 square nautical miles and Area B covers 880 square
nautical miles, Area A was assigned 6 stations and Area B 24 stations. From
M. G. Natrella's Experimental Statistics Table of Random Numbers (NBS Hand-
book #91, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1963), a series of random numbers was
selected. Within Area A each nautical square mile was numbered with square
mile number 1 in the NW corner, number 10 in the SW corner, number 201 in
the NE corner and number 210 in the SE corner. Within Area B, number 1 was
in the NW corner, 24 in the SW corner, 865 in the NE corner, and 888 in the
SE corner. The following square mile areas, arrayed as described above, were
designated as sampling stations in Area A: 076, 184, 133, 169, 173, and 029
(alternates 190 and 004). In Area B, the sampling stations, the square mile
numbers were: 732, 783, 571, 564, 405, 756, 544, 235, 409, 355, 820, 878,
876, 222, 346, 107, 583, 629, 444, 654, 236, 541, 692, and 089.

V-31

In addition to the 30 stations in areas A and B, another 3 stations were
selected to examine sediments in shallower areas; 3 stations were selected in
areas covered by heavy slick when the sea state was high; 2 stations were the
the previous Endeavor- 00 2 stations 1 and 2; and 2 stations were selected
between Areas A and B.

Station number system. Stations chosen at random in Area A have the
letter "A" as a prefix. Stations chosen at random in Area B have the letter
"B" as a prefix. Stations chosen in shallower areas have the letter "C" as
a prefix. Stations in areas covered by a heavy slick when the sea state was
high have the letter "D" as a prefix. Endeavor-002 stations 1 and 2 have the
letter "E" as a prefix. Stations between areas A and B have the letter "F"
as a prefix. Additional stations chosen while at sea, based on the results
of onboard screening results, will have a letter "G" as a prefix.

V-32

R/V Endeavor cruise EN-003 - station information

Station

Samples

Date

Local
Time

Latitude N
Loran C Longitude W
(deg/min)

E-l Hydrocast (5-liter Niskins

and 4-liter sterile bag sam-
ples at depths 1, 6 and 37 m)

A-40 Hydrocast (5-liter Niskins

and 4-liter sterile bag sam-
ples at depths 1, 6 and 47 m)

A-40 Grab 1 (depth 42 m)

A-40 Grab 2 (depth 34-42 m)

A-40 Grab 3 (depth 42 m)

C-37 Grab 1 (depth 30 m)

C-37 Grab 2 (depth 36 m)

C-37 Grab 3 (depth 36 m)

C-37 Hydrocast (5-liter Niskins

and 4-liter sterile bag sam-
ples at depths 1, 8 and 30 m)

A-38 Hydrocast (5-liter Niskins

and 4-liter sterile bag sam-
ples at depths 1, 6 and 36 m)

A-38 Grab 1 (depth 41 m)

A-38 Grab 2 (depth 44 m)

A-38 Grab 3 (depth 44 m)

1/26/77 2100

1/28/77 1407

1/28/77 1418

1/28/77 1429

1/28/77 1446

1/28/77 1507

1/28/77 1517

1/28/77 1524

1/28/77 1545

1/28/77 1613

1/28/77 1642

1/28/77 1653

1/28/77 1703

C-39 Hydrocast (5-liter Niskins) 1/28/77
and 4-liter sterile bag sam-
ples at depths 1, 6 and 44 m)

1738

38029.1

40

43.0

70135.5

70

00.7

37715.7

40

56.3

70114.0

69

30.7

37693.1

40

58.1

70107.6

69

29.7

37692.6

40

58.3

70107.0

69

29.5

37687.7

40

58.8

70105.1

69

29.2

37670.5

40

57.9

70112.6

69

26.3

37667.6

40

58.2

70111.8

69

26.0

37665.6

40

58.4

70111.1

69

25.9

37665.55*

40

57.8

70114.20

69

25.4

37643.35*

40

59.5

70108.55

69

24.4

37638.8

40

59.7

70106.8

69

24.2

37634.3

41

00.2

70105.9

69

23.6

37630.5

41

00.5

70104.7

69

23.5

37620.25*

41

02.5

70094.95

69

24.1

*Midpoint of hydrocast

V-33

R/V Endeavor CRUISE EN-004
FEBRUARY 8-12, 1977

Graduate School of Oceanography
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

The R/V Endeavor is to depart Quonset, Rhode Island, at 1000, February
8, for Nantucket Shoals and surrounding waters, and return to Quonset at
1600, February 12, 1977. Funding to be provided by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (proposed) and by the Energy Research and Develop-
ment Agency.

Scientific Personnel

Sheldon Pratt, Chief, GSO, URI

Robert Bowen, Technician, Chemistry, URI

M. M. Brady, Technician, Chemistry, URI

Steve Buchanan, Marine Science Technician 2nd Class, U.S. Coast Guard

Craig Schaarf, Bird Specialist, Manomet Bird Observatory

Dave Konigsbert, Student, Ocean Engineering, URI

William Hahn, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Ted Benttinen, Marine Technician, GSO, URI

Barclay Collins, Graduate Student, GSO, URI

Doug Vaughn, Graduate Student, GSO, URI

Elwyn "Bud" Rolofson, NOAA-MESA, Boulder, Colorado

Main Objectives and Station Selection Procedure

The main objectives and station selection procedure were the same as for
cruise EN-003. Station information is given in the table below.

V-34

R/V Endeavor cruise EN-004 - station information

Station

Random

Lat,

N

Long. W.

Approx.

Miles

Miles to

No.

No.

(deg/min)

depth

from

next

(fathoms)

wreck

station

E-l

E

40

4.2

70

00.5

17-24

29

86

(grabs only)
B-2

876

40
40

46

47

68
68

40.1
05.3

38

65

2

B-3

8 78

40
40

44
45

68
68

04.1
05.3

39

66

4

B-4

7 83

40
40

44
45

68
68

09.4
10.8

33-39

61

3

B-5
(optiona

1)

756

40
40

46
47

68
68

10.8
11.8

30-35

60

1

B-6

732

40
40

46

47

68

68

11.8

13.0

30-33

59

9

B-7

820

40
40

54
55

68
68

07.0
08.2

29-31

61

8

B-8

654

40

52

68

16.0

27

55

2

(optiona

1)

40

53

68

17.5

B-9

629

40
40

53

54

68
68

17.5
19.0

25

53

3

B-10

583

40
40

51
52

68
68

20.0
21.5

20-23

52

5

B-ll

564

40
40

46
47

68
68

21.7
22.7

25-28

52

3

B-12

544

40
40

43
44

68

68

22.7
24.0

30

52

8

B-13

692

40
40

38

39

68

68

15.0
16.0

43

59

5

B-14

571

40

39

68

21.5

37

54

0

(optiona

1)

40

40

68

22.7

B-15

571

40
40

39

40

68
68

21.5
22.7

3 7

54

7

B-16

405

40
40

37
38

68
68

30.1
31.6

36

49

3

B-17

355

40
40

39

40

68

68

33.0
34.2

30

46

5

B-18

236

40

40

38
39

68

68

39.7
41.0

32

42

1

V-35

R/V Endeavor cruise EN-004 - station information (continued)

Station

Random

Lat.

N

Long. W.

Approx.

Miles

Miles to

No.

No.

(deg/min)

depth

from

next

(fathoms)

wreck

station

B-19
(optional)

235

40
40

39
40

68
68

39.7
41.0

32

42

12

B-20

444

40
40

46
47

68
68

28.0
29.3

23

47

5

B-21

346

40
40

48
49

68
68

33.0
34.2

32

43

10

B-22

409

40
40

57
58

68
68

29.3
30.3

8-12

45

4

C-23

C

40

56.

8

68

34.7

10

41

5

D-24

D

40

57.

0

68

41.6

19

36

5

B-25

222

40.
40

52
53

68
68

39.7
41.0

30

36

7

B-26

107

40
40

47
48

68
68

46.2
47.3

36

34

6

B-27

89 -

40
40

41

42

68
68

47.3
48.7

35

35

12

F-28

F

40

49.

0

69

00

39

24

5

F-29

F

40

54.

0

69

01.6

42

21

12

E-30

E

40

50.

0

69

15.9

30

13

A-31

169

41
41

69
69

11.5
10.3

33

12

7

A-32

184

41

01

69

12.8

25

14

6

(optional)

41,

02

69

11.5

A-33

173

41
41

02
03

69
69

14.1
12.8

25

12

1

A-34

133

41

41

02
03

69
69

16.8
18.2

20-24

9

4

D-35

D

40

58

69

17.3

13

9

5

D-36

D

41

01

69

32

29

7

2

C-39

41

03

69

26.0

5-10

3

4

(grabs &

water)

G-41

41

07

69

22

G-42

40

54

69

36

V-36

R/V Endeavor CRUISE EN-005 (PROSPECTUS)*
FEBRUARY 22-25, 1977

Graduate School of Oceanography

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

The R/V Endeavor is to depart Quonset, Rhode Island, at 0830, February
22, for Nantucket, and return to Quonset at 1600, February 25, 1977. Funding
is to be provided partly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion.

Scientific Personnel

Eva Hoffman, Chief Scientist, GSO, URI

Sheldon Pratt, Co-Investigator, GSO, URI

Robert S. Brown, Co-Investigator, Animal Pathology, URI

Patricia Boyd, Student, URI

Jack Greene, Plankton Physiologist, NMFS Narrangansett R&D Center,

Groton, Conn.
Scott Fortier, Staff Chemist, U.S. Coast Guard, R&D Center, Groton, Conn,
Bill Osberg, MST III, U.S. Coast Guard, R&D Center, Groton, Conn.
David Rudnick, Graduate Student, GSO, URI
Keith Cooper, Graduate Student

Vicki Murray, Research Assistant, Animal Pathology Department
Tatsusaburo Isaji, Student, Ocean Engineering, URI
Jim Hannon, Marine Technician, GSO, URI
Audrey Fillion, Graduate Student, McGill University
Renate Pollack, Graduate Student, McGill University

Main Objective

Determination of the areal extent of sediment contamination by Argo
Merchant oil, the collection of benthic organisms, and deployment of bottom
drifters.

Ancillary Objectives

1. Determination of depth of sediment contamination by Argo Merchant
oil.

2. Determination of relationship between contamination of sediments and
hydrocarbon content of benthic organisms in the area.

3. Determination of the density and relative abundance of benthic
organisms retained by a 1-millimeter sieve.

*This cruise was conducted.

V-37

4. Archive and preserve sediment samples for future meiobenthic work.

5. Collection and description of phytoplankton in the area over con-
tamination and uncontaminated sediments.

6. Collection of contaminated sediment and appropriate controls for
laboratory studies (bioassays, benthic nutrient flux, O2 uptake, etc).

7 . Qualitative dredge samples for collection of epibenthos for histo-
pathologic studies.

8. Collection of ichthyoplankton for oil effects research at NMFS.

41° 10'N

•4

40° 50'

9

2

Proposed sample stations for Endeavor cruise EN-005,
10-fathom contours are shown4

V-38

1

CM

h-

CQ fO

— CD

•

m

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<t

00

CO

•

CO ™

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CD,

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CM
CM

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•

to

CM

CO

*■

CO

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(VI

•

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a

•

B26

•

.B27
BI9

AREA B

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en

CM

CM

u.

u.

•

CM

•

ro ro

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to

\> 5

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UJ

fO

•

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ro

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z
<

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UJ

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UJ
Q

CC*< UJ

CO

rO» C£
Q <

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z
o

CC

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CC

K-
<

CC
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LL
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CC

—

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V-39

REPORT OF A SURVEY OF THE INTERTIDAL ZONE
NANTUCKET ISLAND, DECEMBER 27-29, 1976

The Ecosystems Center
Marine Biological Laboratory
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

Abstract. On December 27 and 28, 1976, a field party surveyed the
beaches, harbors, and marshes of Nantucket with the objective of
providing crude baseline data for appraisal of the effects of any
oil that might wash ashore from the Argo Merchant spill. The study
relied on three transects for samples, one on the eastern end of
South Beach in an area of rapid mineral and organic deposition, one
on the north shore beach, and one on Eel Point across a marsh. A
fourth set of samples was taken from the harbor bottom near the
University of Massachusetts Field Station. The sampling is being
used both as background information and, for this spill, to provide
evidence as to how to design such a sampling program in the future,
as well as to provide a guide for long-term studies designed for
better resolution of the effects of toxins on the coastal zone.

Introduction

At the request of H. Curl of NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, a group of scien-
tists met at 0900, Sunday, December 26, in Hyannis, Massachusetts, to design
a sampling scheme capable of describing the biota of the intertidal zone of
Nantucket Island prior to the arrival of oil from the Argo Merchant spill on
Nantucket Shoals, about 27 miles southeast of Nantucket.

The challenge was twofold: first, to obtain data from Nantucket immedi-
ately, because there was a real possibility that the oil would wash ashore
within hours; second, to design a scheme for the longer-term appraisal of the
potential biotic effects of oil or other toxins on the intertidal zone. The
immediate challenge of Nantucket dominated this meeting, and this report is
limited to the activities in response to the emergency. No data are ready at
this time.

All recognized that no thoroughly adequate or satisfacoory sampling
would be possible. Such a study would require repetitive samplings over
years to describe seasonal changes as well as the normal variability of the
local plant and animal populations. Nonetheless, a brief survey seemed
appropriate, both to provide information immediately on Nantucket and to
provide background as to what was necessary in making such an appraisal.

The following scientists participated in the survey:

G. M. Woodwell, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.

J. E. Hobbie, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.

B. J. Peterson, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.

M. J. Jordan, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.

V-AO

H. L. Sanders,

G. R. Hampson,

M. P. Morse,

T. Novitsky,

W. Tiffney,

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole.
Northeastern University, Marine Science Institute,
Nahant .

Energy Resources Company, Cambridge, Mass.
University of Massachusetts Field Station, Nahant.

Students (2) and assistants (3) .

Sampling Design

The design that emerged from these and other discussions during the
ensuing 24 hours, modified slightly by practical experience on Nantucket in
a storm in December, was as follows:

Sampling was restricted to 4 transects, three that had a high proba-
bility of being oiled in the immediate future and a fourth that was repre-
sentative of the biotically rich embayments of the area. The sites were:

(1) The ocean beach adjacent to the LORAN Station. This is a place of
sand deposition, where floating organic matter normally accumulates both in
the surf and on the beach. If oil were present nearby, it would probably
accumulate here.

(2) The north shore beach near Capaum Pond, a place chosen because it
is representative of the northern shore and is easily accessible.

(3) The Eel Point Marsh on the western tip of the island. If oil were
to reach the southern shore of Nantucket, it would almost certainly be car-
ried into Maddaket Bay and ultimately reach this southward-facing marsh and
the bay adjacent to it.

(4) Nantucket Harbor adjacent to the University of Massachusetts Field
Station. The harbor supports an extremely rich shellfish harvest, especially
scallops. The benthic sediments were sampled to provide baseline data in the
event of oiling. Due to poor weather only two sets of samples were obtained
from this site.

At the beach and marsh sites the sampling was by transects with stations
selected to include major life zones, especially the high-strand line, the
midbeach zone, and the low-tide zone.

The need for extending the sampling below the low-tide zone was recog-
nized, but no sampling could be done at that time except in the bay.

Samples were taken as follows, and in quintuplicate insofar as possible:

Oil. (a) On the beach sites, five 1-dm2 plots 5 centimeters deep were
collected into separate bottles from each of three sites along the transect
(T. Novitsky, ERCO) ; (b) specially prepared 20-liter carboys were filled with
water from the harbor and beach (T. Novitsky, ERCO); and (c) a visual survey
for oil, tar balls, traces of asphalt or other evidence of petroleum contami-
nation was carried out along at least a mile of beach at each sice sampled.

V-41

No trace of oil was found in any part of this survey by any of the three
people who participated in various phases of it (M. Jordan, G. Woodwell, J.
Hobbie, MBL) .

Bacteria. Sediment and water samples for bacteria were taken at each
sampling site. Samples are being counted by a direct count method using
acridine-orange stain and epif luorescent illumination. In addition, selected
samples from each transect were assayed for bacterial metabolism using la-
beled amino acids (J. Hobbie, B. Peterson).

Benthic microalgae. At each site, samples of surface sediments were
taken for determination of chlorophyll content as a measure of microalgae
(primarily diatom) biomass. These analyses are being done now. Samples were
preserved with formaldehyde for taxonomic enumeration of diatons (J. Hobbie,
B . Peterson) .

Benthic macrofauna. Samples were collected along transects at each
site. The sampling quadrants were measured to correspond in size and depth
to samples taken with the Van Veen grab in the subtidal. Samples preserved
with formalde hyde. These samples were taken by Howard Sanders and his
colleagues and will be sorted in a preliminary analysis to appraise the
sampling technique. If oil comes ashore, these samples will be available for
background data (H. Sanders) .

Benthic meiofauna (small invertebrates of interstitial waters in coarse
sands) . Samples were taken at several levels at the two beach sites and at
several additional sites by W. Patricia Morse and her students. These sam-
ples are being analyzed (P. Morse).

The strand line. Organic debris on the strand line was collected ran-
domly and preserved. A more extensive collection of the full range of macro-
algae that could be found along a mile of beach was also made Samples were
preserved for later analysis (M. Jordan) .

Photographers . The sampling program was documented estensively by two
photographers. A set of "standard" photographs was taken at each transect
and at each station looking in the cardinal directions.

Description of Transects

South Shore - Southwest of the town of Siasconset and immediately east
of the USCG Loran Station. The base point of the transect is at the edge of
the permanent dune, approximately 2 meters higher than the high tide. The
transect runs due south* from this base point. The base point is about 20
meters west of a small sand road that runs perpendicular to the beach. A
small antenna 73.8 meters north forms a range with the chimney of a house on

*A11 directions of the compass given in this report are magnetic and have
not been corrected to true north.

V-42

the main road to form sightline A. From a transit set at the base points,
the angles of the various sights and sightlines were as follows (all refer-
enced to magnetic north as 0°, east as 90°, etc.):

Sight A. 341° to the nearby antenna (73.8 meters to its concrete
base) . This antenna is in line with the chimney of a
a house on main road.

Sight B. 23.8° to telephone pole in front of water tower of town on
Siasconset.

Sight C. 180° to transect line.

Sight D. 270.2° to the westernmost antenna of the pair (largest)
on either side of government building.

Sight E. 274.8° to easternmost antenna close to Sight D.

Sight F. 317.8° to high antenna near main road.

Station 1. 45.55 meters south of base point. This is at the high or
storm strandline.

Station 2. 55.0 meters south of base point.

Station 3. 67.28 meters south of base point. This is at the highest
point the waves reach at low tide.

North Shore - North of the parking lot of the beach access road that
passes to the east of Capaum Pond. It is directly west of the town of Nan-
tuc ket. The base point is on the permanent dune, which is about 5 meters
high. The transect runs due north from this point.

From a transit set at the base point, the angles of the various sights
were as follows (all referenced to magnetic north as 0°, east as 90°, etc.):

Sight A. 64.3° to middle of peak of Hyde House.

Sight B. 159.0° to righthand side of large water tower.

Sight C. 174.6° to midpoint of chimney of house.

Station 1. 14.4 meters north of base point. This is at the high or
storm strandline.

Station 2. 18.9 meters north of base point.

Station 3. 25.3 meters north of base point. This is at the edge of the
waves at slack tide.

V-43

Eel Pond Marsh - The base point is at the northeast edge of Maddaket
Harbor at the west end of the island at the edge of a low salt marsh next to
a metal stake, 140.8 meters from the edge of the water along Sightline A.
From a transit set at the base point, the angles of the various sights were
as follows (all referenced to magnetic north as 0°, east as 90°, etc.):

Sight A. 212.0° to transect line.

Sight B. 165.2° to west chimney of houses.

Sight C. 124.4° to line of telephone poles.

Sight D. 224.8° to westernmost telphone pole on Smith Point.

Station 1. 17.0 meters from base point.

Station 2. 47.5 meters from base point.

Station 3. 71.5 meters from base point.

Station 4. 98.8 meters from base point.

Station 5. 130.8 meters from base point.

Station 6. 135.8 meters from base point.

Station 7. 140.8 meters from base point.

Nantucket Harbor - Northwest from the University of Massachusetts Field
Station on the Polpis Road. The first station was in the middle of the har
bor and the second station was one-fifth of the way back (five stations were
planned but dangerous weather allowed only two to be sampled) . Small buoys
were left for a short-term reference point (H. Sanders, WHOI) .

Results

Only those samples that cannot be stored are being analyzed immediately
in detail. These are the microbial samples, samples for chlorophyll, and
preliminary identification of living meiofauna and macrofauna. No other sam-
ples will be analyzed for the moment. These analyses will provide a basis
for appraising the effectiveness of the sampling.

Follow-up Studies

(1) The probability seems high that oil from this spill will come
ashore at one time or another on Nantucket and other areas along the eastern
seaboard, including eastern Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and elsewhere. A
systematic sampling of these areas in advance of the oil is clearly desir-
able. The question is how intensive this survey should be. The answer will
depend in part on the results of the study of Nantucket.

V-44

(2) The transects should be continued into the coastal waters to a
depth of 30 to 50 feet, where the data from oceanographic vessels is assumed
to apply. The sampling must, of course, be from a boat and should be stra-
tified to include representative bottom types. Proper collections of epi-
phytes and the fauna and flora of hard bottoms is possible only by divers who
cannot work safely in waters around Nantucket in winter. A cruise of the
R.V. Verrill, or an equivalent vessel (from MBL) , to Nantucket is planned for
the week of January 10 to complete this sampling. The total sampling with
modifications indicated by this experience should be repeated at least quar-
terly to account for seasonal variations.

(3) More measurements of "heterotrophic potential" are required. We
were able to do only 5 measurements (out of 12 possible) because of lack of
time and manpower. The "heterotrophic potential" measurement has two parts:
(a) measurement of the rate of incorporation of the organic substrate (e.g.,
glutamic acid - C) into particulate matter; and (b) rate of release of
1^C02 from the organic matter (mineralization). We were able to do only part
(a) and only on a limited number of samples. Part (b) should be run as well.

(4) If the oil comes ashore we will have the following control data:
(a) preoiling survey data from these studies; (b) unoiled sites nearby; and
(c) a comprehensive survey of earlier studies in the area. A sampling plan
is being designed to appraise the effects, both shore and long-term.

V-45

APPENDIX VI
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VI-11

APPENDIX VII
Miscellaneous Tables and Figures

Page
Figures VII-2
Tables VII-28

VII-1

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Figure VII- 1. Flight lines for NASA flight on December 22, 1976.

VII-2

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Figure VII-2. Flight lines for NASA flight on January 3, 1977,

VII-3

niliniliiiiluii i mini pjl^sJ; ■ ' " '" " ' '\ ' '■' ' " ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' " ' '"' ' P11 ' h ' ' ' ' ' ' '' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

Figure VII-3. Flight lines for NASA flight on January 5, 1977.

VII-4

41°08'N

69°28'W

69°18'W

0

J

/-

(D

0)'

41°00'N

Flight Line Number

Figure VII-4. Flight lines for NASA flight on January 6, 1977.

VII-5

7I°W 70°W 69°W 68°W 67°W 66°W

42°N

4I°N - --.

40°N

39°N

Figure VII-5. Locations of Landsat II images
for December 22 and 23, 1976.

42°N-

4I°N

40°N -

39°N

Figure VII-6. Locations of Landsat II images for January 9, 1977,

VII-6

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VII-7

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VII-14

40° N

67°W

Figure VII-15. Impact probability for spring (no current)

VII-15

39°N

Figure VII-16. Impact probability for winter (winds and west current).

VII-16

43c

42c

41'

40£

39c

39° N
68° W

Figure VII-17. Impact probability for spring (winds and west current)

VII-17

./

■+^ I

Model prediction

Argo Merchant •"' f3y£L

— 40° N-

70° W

68° W

Figure VII-18. Predicted and observed location and shape of oil slick,
December 27. Model prediction shows oil released from the Argo
Merchant from 1600, December 17, through 1300, December 27. Wind
input is from Nantucket Light Ship.

-42°

" ^ n

«£»

^

Argo Merchant

-4CN

Model prediction
\

► . . *

Observed slick

70° W

68° W

Figure VII-19. Predicted and observed location and shape of oil slick,
December 27. Model prediction shows oil released from the Argo
Merchant from 1600, December 27, through 1300, December 27. Wind
input is from USCGC Vigilant.

VII-18

i

kl N

U

■ i

Argo Merchant +»l

Model Prediction

Observed SI ick

kO N

70 W

Figure VII-20. Predicted and observed location and shape of oil slick,
December 27. Model prediction shows oil released from the Argo
Merchant from 1600, December 17, through 1300, December 27. Wind
input is from USCGC Vigilant with 20° drift angle added.

Figure VII-21. Predicted and observed location and shape of oil slick,
December 27. Model prediction shows oil released from the Argo
Merchant from 1600, December 17 through 1300, December 27. Wind
input is from Nantucket Light Ship with 20° drift angle added.

VII-19

70. 50 69.00 87.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

64.50

Figure VII-22.

Thirty-day trajectory for the deterministic model
(wind only) .

VII-20

70. 50 69.00 67.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

64.50

Figure VII-23,

Thirty-day trajectory for the deterministic model
(wind and tidal currents) .

VII-21

70.50 63.00 67.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

61.50

Figure VII-24,

Five Monte Carlo trajectories of thirty days duration
(wind only) .

VII-22

70.50

69.00

87. 50

66.00

64.50

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

Figure VII-25. Five Monte Carlo trajectories of thirty days duration
(wind and tidal currents) .

VII-23

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70.50 69.00 87.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

61.50

Figure VII-26. Five-day Monte Carlo prediction (wind and tidal currents)

VII-24

69.00 67.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

64. 50

Figure VII-27. Ten-day Monte Carlo prediction (wind and tidal currents)

VII-25

70.50 69.00 67.50 66.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

64.50

Figure VII-28. Thirty-day Monte Carlo prediction (wind and tidal currents)

VII-26

70.50 $9.00 87.50 86.00

LONGITUDE (DEGREES)

64.50

Figure VII-29. Thirty-day Monte Carlo prediction (wind only)

VII-27

Table VII- 1. Flight log, NASA C-54 overflight of Avgo
Merchant oil spill, December 19, 1976

Flight
line

Altitude
(ft)

Direction
(°true)

Time (GMT)
start
stop

Lat. N
start

stop
(min/deg)

Long. W
start
stop
min/deg)

1

5500

175

14:42:40

41

01.2

61

27.8

2

5500

76

-

40

59.5

69

24.5

3

5500

32

-

41

01.2

69

21.0

4

5500

7

-

41

01.1

69

28.9

5

5500

68

15:22:30

41
41

01.1
03.9

69
69

23.9
18.8

6

5500

275

15:28:52
15:31:59

41
41

02.3
01.1

69
69

19.7
29.2

7

5500

80

15:35:11
15:37:47

41
41

00.4
01.8

69
69

29.3
19.8

8

5500

252

15:41:30
15:44:18

40
40

59.9
58.0

69
69

20.7
28.9

9

2500

64

15:48:50

41
41

01.2
04.0

69
69

29.2
19.3

10

2500

203

15:54:50
15:57:08

41
40

04.1
58.9

69
69

19.3
21.6

11

2500

253

15:59:00
16:01:36

40
40

58.7

57.7

69
69

21.9
29.4

12

2500

17

16:03:40
16:04:46

40
41

58.9
01.8

69
69

30.0

28.7

T-ll
Camera

Lenses Type

Film
(aerial film speed)

Filter

No. frames
taken

1

6.3 in. 2443

40 1

2 anti-

198

vignetting

VII-28

Table VII-2. Flight log, NASA C-54 overflight of Argo Merchant oil spill,

December 22, 1976

Lat. N

Long. W

Time GMT

start

start

Flight

Altitude

start

stop

stop

line

(ft)

stop

(min/deg)

(min/deg)

1

2500

17:12:00

41

02.0

69

27.5

17:16:30

41

00.5

69

26.6

2

2500

17:16:30

41

01.8

69

27.3

17:17:45

41

00.2

69

25.3

3

2500

17:17:45

40

59.8

69

24.0

17:19:15

41

00.7

69

19.8

4

2500

17:19:15

41

00.7

69

19.8

17:21:00

41

03.2

69

16.5

5

2500

17:21:00

41

05.5

69

14.9

17:31:39

41

05.6

69

13.0

6

2500

17:31:39

41

02.2

69

27.8

17:35:00

40

59.4

69

24.7

7

2500

17:35:00

40

59.3

69

25.1

-

40

59.6

69

21.9

8

2500

_

40

59.6

69

21.9

—

41

00.2

69

19.9

9

2500

—

41

00.2

69

19.9

-

41

01.4

69

17.7

10

2500

—

41

01.4

69

17.7

-

41

05.0

69

13.6

11

2500

17:45:00

41

02.1

69

28.1

-

40

58.9

69

25.5

12

2500

17:48:30

40

58.8

69

24.6

-

40

58.9

69

22.5

13

2500

—

40

58.9

69

22.5

-

40

59.4

69

20.7

14

2500

-

40

59.4

69

20.7

-

41

00.6

69

17.9

15

2500

-

41

00.6

69

17.9

VII-29

Table VII-2. Flight log, NASA C-54 overflight of Argo Merchant oil spill,

December 22, 1976 (continued)

16 2500 - 41 03.3 69 14.6

17 2500 -

41 04.7 69 13.4

T-ll Film Shutter No frames

Camera Lenses Type Aerial Film Speed Filter Speed/sec Taken

1 6.3 inch 2443 40 1.2 anti- 1/75 172

vignetting

VII-30

Table VII-3. Flight log, NASA C-130 overflight of Argo Merchant oil spill,

January 3, 1977

Lat. N

Long. W

Time GMT

start

start

Flight

Altitude

start

stop

stop

line

(ft)

stop

(min/deg)

(min/deg)

1

5600

16:18:30

39

57.3

66

20.7

16:20:30

39

57.9

66

29.8

2

5300

16:22:05

40

00.9

66

28.7

16:23:45

40

01.3

66

20.5

3

5000
to

16:26:55

40

02.0

66

21.4

3800

16:28:35

39

57.3

66

24.1

4

3000

16:33:25

40

56.7

66

19.3

16:42:30

39

52.1

66

56.6

5

3000

16:44:50

39

51.6

66

51.8

16:50:24

39

55.7

66

22.1

5

3000

16:50:34

40

03.2

66

15.0

16:53:55

40

01.9

66

19.0

6

5400

16:57:30

39

57.7

66

14.3

16:58:25

39

55.9

66

01.8

7

5400

17:00:40

39

58.1

66

14.3

17:03:20

39

58.2

66

01.8

8

5500

17:06:00

39

58.1

66

00.0

17:09:25

39

58.2

66

14.4

9

3050

17:14:25

40

07.9

66

11.3

17:15:25

40

08.9

66

13.8

Zeiss

Fi

lm

Shutter

F Stop

No . Frames

Camera

Lenses
6 inch

Type/Emulsion Filter
S0397 48-1 Ratten 3

Speed/sec
1/110

ASA
2/160

Taken

1

268

2

6 inch

2443

206

-2 Ratten 12

1/110

2/80

259

VII-31

Table VII-4. Flight log, NASA C-130 overflight of Argo Merchant oil spill,

January 5, 1977

Flight
line

Altitude
(ft)

Time GMT
start
stop

Lat. N
start
stop
(min/deg)

Long. W

start

stop

(min/deg)

1

1900

15:48:35
15:49:20

41 01.2
41 01.4

69 29.8
69 24.3

2

1900

15:52:50
15:53:45

40 59.9

41 02.0

69 25.3
69 27.3

3

2000

15:57:25
16:13:50

41 01.8
40 47.0

69 27.5
68 45.6

ZEISS
Camera

Lenses

6 inch
6 inch

Film
Type/Emulsion Filter

S0397 48-1 Ratten
2443 206-2 Ratten

3
12

Shutter
Speed/sec

1/100
1/100

F Stop
ASA

No . Frames
Taken

1
2

2/160
2/180

253
193

VII-32

Table VII-5. Flight log, NASA C-54 overflight of Argo Merchant oil spill,

January 6, 1977

Flight
line

Altitude
(ft)

Time GMT
start
stop

Lat. N
start
stop
(min/deg)

Long. W
start
stop
(min/deg)

1

2000

15:36:00

41 00.9
41 00.8

69 27.8
69 25.4

2

2000

18:45:00

41 00.0
41 02.8

69 28.1
69 27.8

3

2000

18:48:00

41 02.6
41 02.5

69 28.0
69 27.0

ZEISS
Camera

Film
Lenses Type/Emulsion Filter

Shutter
Speed/sec

F Stop
ASA

No . Frames
Taken

1
2

6.
6.

3
3

inch S0397
inch 2443

64
40

Haze No. 3
Clear anti-
vignetting

1/150
- 1/75

22
23

VII-33

Table VII-6. Tide tables for Nantucket Shoals

POLLOCK DIP CHANNEL, MASS., 1976
F-FLOOD. OIR. OJS* TRUE E-E8S. OIR. 225* TRUE

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

SLACK

MAXIMUM

SLACK

MAXIMUM

SLACK

MAX I MUM

SLACK

MAIIMUM

KATES

CURRENT

WATER

CURRENT

WATER

CURRENT

WATER

CURRENT

TIME

TIKE

YEL.

TIME

TIME

VEL.

TIME

TIME

VEL.

TIME

TIME

VEL.

Ml

OAT

OAT

OAT

H.N.

H.rt.

KNOTS

H.H.

H.N.

KNOTS

H.H.

H.H.

KNOTS

H.H.

H.N.

KNOTS

1

0159

2. OF

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0042

1.9F

1

0224

2. OF

16

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04 58

0758

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0818

1.6E

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1101

1433

1.9F

0968

1313

1.8F

1122

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2. OF

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l.SE

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* K. COOO IS

HI0NI5HT. 1200 IS HOOD

VII-34

Table VII-7. Current meter deployments

Key
agency

Date

Duration
(days)

Location
Lat. N Long. W
(deg/min)

Instruments /Depth

121
USGS

12/28/76

123
USGS

12/28/76

124
USGS

12/28/76

X

USGS

12/28/76

Z
NUSC

2/29/76

1
USGS

12/05/76

A

NOS

8/19/60

B
NOS

8/19/60

C
NOS

8/19/60

23
NOS

11- /33

32
NOS

2/- /33

36

NOS

11- /33

60

60

60

60

50

60

40 53.4 69 09.6

Tripod at 85 m
VCAMS at 45 and 75 m

1/2

40 14.0 69 22.5 VCAM at 13 m

40 42.5 70 00.5 Tripod at 70

40 30.8 69 29.3 850 at 18 m

40 50.5 69 16 3 current meters

40 51.2 67 24.7 EGG EM at 18 and 28 m

41 02.7 69 46.6 3, 10 and 16 m

41 01.9 69 43.4 8, 19 and 34 m

41 02.1 69 41.4 Robert at 2.5, 7 and

12 m

41 19.3 69 21 Unknown

40 58.4 69 30 Unknown

41 07 69 41.4 Unknown

VII-35

Table VII-8. Lagrangian Drifters

Local

Position

Time

Speed

Dir.

ID

Date

Time

Lat. N

Long. W

(hr)

(kt)

(°true)

DMB 1

a

12/18/76

1041

41

02

69

27.5

b

12/18/76

1340

40

59.5

69

30.0

2.9

.91

142

c

12/19/76

0910

40

53.1

69

14.9

22.5

.58

119

d

12/20/76

1023

40

56.4

69

08.5

22.2

.26

56

DMB 2

a

12/27/76

1020

40

44.0

68

20.3

b

12/31/76

1200

40

29.0

68

00.0

98

.22

135

DMB 3

a

12/31/76

1340

40

07

66

59

8.6

1.45

132

b

12/31/76

2217

39

57.6

66

46.8

DMB 4

a

1/18/77

1400

41

02

69

28

b

1/19/77

1440

40

55

69

15.5

24.7

.48

126

DMB 5

a

1/23/77

1018

41

02

69

27.5

b

1/26/77

0930

40

50.3

69

25.9

23.2

.51

174

PW 1

12/18/76

1348

41

02.0

69

27.5

PW 2

12/18/76

1352

41

02.0

69

27.5

2/2/77

0715

40

21

70

59

PW 3

12/18/76

1353

41

02.0

69

27.5

PW 4

12/30/76

1000

40

42.5

69

26.0

VII-36

Table VII-9. Drift card deployments

Deployment
No.

Date

Time

Location
Lat. N Long. W
(deg/min)

Quantity

1

12/21/76

1615

41

02

69

27.5

500

2

12/26/76

0947

41

065

69

52.0

1000

3

12/26/76

954

41

15.8

69

47.0

1000

4

12/26/76

1000

41

21.3

69

30.0

980

5

12/26/76

1220

41

01.1

68

40.4

100

6

12/27/76

902

41

25.0

69

50.0

1000

7

12/27/76

912

41

15.0

69

50.0

1000

8

12/27/76

1000

41

07.0

70

00.0

1000

9

12/30/76

1041

40

30.0

70

30.0

1000

10

12/30/76

1102

34

45.0

70

03.0

1000

11

12/30/76

1245

40

12.3

67

01.6

1000

12

1/3/77

1200

41

4.5

69

34.0

1000

VII-37

Table VII-10. NOAA drifting buoy 343

nay

Yk

HO UK

La

'-M

L O N vj - ■«

OlbT

TlMt

SPttU

UIR

0

M

U

IV]

MM

M IN

K1S

r

31

7b

221 7

J V

D/'

bo

4b

1

7h

ib<+

3v

55

bb

92

4.0

d.\b

1.1

1^6

1

77

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39.

bl

bb

3d

d.4

401

1.3

119

1

7 7

10^0

39

4b

bO

40

b.b

104

3.d

243

1

77

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39

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bb

30

7.tt

10b

^.4

dl

1

n

21d7

3-*

42

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df

7 . 7

670

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39

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bb

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104

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24

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bl4

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VII-38

Table VII-10. NOAA drifting buoy 343 (continued)

UAY

r^

H-OUK

LM

r-N

LONG-w

U 1 S T

T IMt

SPfctO

Ulh?

!)

M

D

-4

NM

M I N

KTS

[

12

77

S 6

3d

37

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1 1

7.4

40b

1.1

137

12

77

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3d

3S

sb

1"

1 .5

101

• 9

142

12

77

21 d

3d

J>;

S4

4o

14.0

Sdl

1. 1

1U6

12

77

22d2

3m

JO

64

4J

2.4

104

1.4

104

13

77

9 b

3d

2 3

^J

S4

Jd.O

613

3. 7

100

14

7 7

d2b

3d

Id

bl

4J

99. 1

139d

4.3

93

L4

77

1010

3d

*:l

Si

30

10.4

10b

6.2

74

14

77

1156

3d

22

bl

30

1 .J

107

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339

L4

11

2123

3rJ

34

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4

2J.U

b70

2.4

bd

IS

11

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3d

J 9

so

bd

6,9

212

2.0

46

lb

11

746

3b

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so

04

ld.d

40b

d.ci

d

is

77

927

3d

48

so

4^+

12.3

101

7.3

141

lb

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2049

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b/

su

24

17.8

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1.6

b7

lb

7 7

d46

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b4

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21

3.n

71b

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142

IS

11

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45

so

11

11.9

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139

IS

77

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7

2. 7

103

1.6

69

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122

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14. J

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d,[

do

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77

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101

1 .6

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77

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616

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VII-39

Table VII-11. NOAA drifting buoy 373

DAY

Y*

-lOUK

L-aI

-i\i

1 tJ'N

(G- w

OlST

T IML

^HEtO

Di*

0

■ -1

0

M

NM

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r

2 t

76

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d

27

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^J22

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<+2

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b.4

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4l

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1

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61£

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VII-44

Table VII-15. Zooplankton species abundance observed on Delaware II cruise
76-13 at stations located in vicinity of Argo Merchant (Figure 4-1)

Stations

— » 4

5

6

7

8

9

Spec ies

Life Stage

Number/ 100 m3

Calanua flnmarchicus

000
054
052

106

348

175
9

973
21

584
255

1097

Centropages typlcus

000
054
052

5072
740

4018
52

753
94

342
32

584
218

5119
4388

Centropages hamatus

000

1162

70

27

35

36

2560

Pseudo-paracalanus

000
054

2187'*
16274

3809
470

94

317

23134

126519
63625

Metridia lucens

000
052

313

36
58

56
78

36
730

365

Teraora longlcornls

000

106

52

4

14

Rhincalanus coronutus

000

4

Oithona sp.

000

328

731

Acartla sp.

000

106

Calanus minor

000

365

Tortanus discaudatus

000

4

Alteutha depressa

000

317

104

36

Sagitta elegans

000

52

395

102

73

Sagitta serratodentata

000
000

45

95
4

Sagitta spp.

Parathemlsto sp.

000

112

052
054

106

Monoculodes sp.

054

Gammarldae

054

2959

52

Gammarldea

000
054

Crangon septemsplnosa

000

Cumacea

054

106

Cirripedia

013

106

Asteroidaa

054

Gastropoda

000

Pteropoda

000

Foramlnlf era

000

528

209

Molts

4650

70

Pish eggs

054

211

17

Ammodvtes amerlcanus

054

1585

2922

103

4

350

35

14
222

1314

292
620

731

365
1462

365

365
18646

Total

51358

12488

2259

2352

28240

225974

* 000 - Adult (large)

054 - Copepodite stages I-III (medium)
052 - Copepodite stages IV and V (small)
013 - Nauplius

VII-45

Table VII-16. Numbers of fish eggs and larvae per sample collected in the
area of the oil spill (values represent combined totals of eggs
from surface and water column samples and are not standardized for
volume of water strained) .

Station

Species

4

5

6

7*

8

9

Fish eggs:

Cod

(Gadus morhua)

277

53

17

5

25

310

Pollock

(Pollachius virens)

5

59

13

32

1139

115

Total

282 112

30

37 1164

425

Larvae:
Cod
(Gadus morhua)

Pollock
(Pollachius virens)

15

Sand Launce
(Ammodytes americanus)

5890 10,641 5950 1313 1361 5953

Herring

(Clupea harengus)

Rockling

(Enchelyopus cimbrius)

Hake
(Urophycis sp_. )

Total

5892 10,643 5968 1316 1361 5954

* No surface sample taken; numbers are for the water column sample only.

VII-46

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VII-47

Table VII-18. Stomach contents of fish species, as percent weight,
collected during Delaware II cruise 76-13

Stomach Spiny Little Winter Atlantic Ocean

contents dogfish skate skate cod pout Windowpane

+ + 0.4 0.1

+ 0A + JL2

3.0 21.8 4.0 16.9

HYDR0Z0A

+

NEMATODA

-

POLYCHAETA

_

Ophel iidae

-

Aphroditidae

-

Glyceridae

-

Maldanidae

-

Other Polychaeta

-

CRUSTACEA

_

Cancridae

-

Crangonitae

-

Paguridae

-

Panda! idae

-

Other decapoda

-

Gamma r idea

_

Caprel 1 idea

-

Isopoda

-

MOLLUSCA

0.3

Pelecypoda

-

Cephalopoda

0.3

ECHINODERMATA

_

Strongylocentrotus

-

Echinarachnius

-

PISCES

99.7

Ammodytes amer.

7.6

Other Pisces

92.1

0.6 21.8

3.9 16.9

0.6 - -

0.7 - -

6.1 - 0.1 -

84.2 2.0 62.0 29.4 96.8

2.9 - 6.9 28.7

4.5 - 4.3 - 3.3

12.5 - 0.3 -

0.7

1.5 - 3.3

63.8 + 47.8 0.7 90.2

+ -

0.5 2.0 0.5 +

5^3. - 0^7. (LI

0.2 - 0.7 0.3
5.1

0.7 16.6

0.7
0.7 15.9

50.3 27.6 - Li.

50.3 25.7

1.9 - 2.9

MISCELLANEOUS - 2.5 25.8 5.0 4.1 0.2

SAND and ROCKS - - - 32.1 -_

§ Stomachs 9 40 7 26 4 5

* Empty 6 2 0 10 0

9

40

7

26

4

6

2

0

1

0

4.93

2.41

10.99

3.90

7.48

76-99

30-49

52-94

35.86

46-69

X wt per stomach(g) 4.93 2.41 10.99 3.90 7.48 3.13
Length range (cm) 76-99 30-49 52-94 35.86 46-69 27-38

+ indicates -0.1%

VII-48

Table VII-19. Part I — stomach contents of fish species as percent
weight, collected during Delaware II cruise 77-01

Stomach
contents

Spiny
dogfish

Little
skate

Winter
skate

Thorny
skate

COELENTERATA
Cerianthidae
Other coelenterates

0.6

0.6

POLYCHAETA
Aphroditiae
Other polychaetes

CRUSTACEA
Caprel 1 idea
Gammaridea
Hyperidea

Cancridae
Crangonidae
Paguridae
Pandal idae

19.5

60

7

60.7

29.5

1.1
18.4

2.3
27.2

48.1

0_

_8

4.1

28.0

-

+

5.1
5.9

4.5

-

4.1

0.7

Isopoda

3.6

Euphausiacea
Other Crustacea

1.0

0.1

MOLLUSCA
Pelecypoda
Gastropoda
Cephalopoda

2.7

2

7

1.4
1.

4

24.9
24.

9

0.1

0.1

ECHINODERMATA

-

-

-

-

Echinoidea
Ophiuroidea

-

PISCES
Cottidae
Gadidae
Ammodytidae
Other fish

97.3
52

44

6
7

15.5

15

5

12.9

3.
9

0
9

43.4

13.4

MISCELLANEOUS

-

14.9

-

22.9

SAND and ROCKS

_

_

Cl_Z

_

# Stomachs

#_ Empty

X wt. per stomach

length range(cm)

10
4
5.28
43-95

23
5
1.38
44-51

2

0
19.41
77-87

4

0
17.28
73-85

+ indicates <0.1%

VII-49

Table VII-19. Part II — stomach contents of fish species, as percent
weight, collected during Delaware II cruise 77-01

Stomach
contents

Red
hake

Haddock

COELENTERATA
Cerianthidae
Other coelenterates

POLYCHAETA
Aphrodi tiae
Other polychaetes

CRUSTACEA
Caprell idea
Gamma r idea
Hyperidea

Cancridae
Crangonidae
Paguridae
Pandal idae

Isopoda

Euphausiacea
Other Crustacea

81.1

23.7
1.0

59.5

59.5

24.2

24.2

1.4

+
0.8

+
0.4

0.2

Pollock

29.6

56.4

0.3
21.6

Atlantic
cod

2.8

-

2.7

-

0.1

38.7

0.1

14.8

0.1

+

_

6.6

0.5

3.1

-

10.3

7.0

0.4

0.3

3.2

Ocean
pout

0.1

9.0

9.8

0.1
9.0

2.1

6.0

0.2
0.1

1.4

M0LLUSCA

1.0

2.0

+

2.3

+

Pelecypoda

1.0

1.9

-

0.8

+

Gastropoda

-

0.1

-

1.5

-

Cephalopoda

-

-

+

-

-

ECHINODERMATA

_

1.3

_

_

79.6

Ec hi no idea

-

0.1

-

-

79.6

Ophiuroidea

-

1.2

-

-

-

PISCES

_

1.6

69.8

53.3

_

Cottidae

-

-

0.5

-

-

Gadidae

-

-

-

-

-

Ammodytidae

-

1.6

68.0

20.8

-

Other fish

-

-

1.3

32.5

-

MISCELLANEOUS

-

0.4

0.2

2.8

1.0

SAND and ROCKS

17.9

9.6

0.J

0.1

Q.J

#Stomachs

6

21

10

39

13

#Empty

1

2

0

2

1

/ wt. per stomach

1.75

11.33

22.95

19.37

13.93

length range(cm)

31-35

34-72

28-87

33-100

53-81

VII-50

Table VII-19. Part III — stomach contents of fish species, as percent
weight, collected during Delaware II cruise 77-01

Stomach
contents

Wi ndowpane
flounder

American
plaice

Winter
flounder

Yellowtail
flounder

COELENTERATA
Cerianthidae
Other coelenterates

POLYCHAETA
Aphroditiae
Other polychaetes

CRUSTACEA
Caprel 1 idea
Gamma r idea
Hyperidea

Cancridae
Crangonidae
Paguridae
Pandal idae

Isopoda

Euphausiacea
Other Crustacea

4.5 93.5

4.5
43.1

0.4

41.6

0.1
1.0

93.5

12.5

66.1

12.5

4.9

60.8
0.4

MULLUbLA

Pelecypoda
Gastropoda
Cephalopoda

-

-

_

H. 1

4.1

ECHINODERMATA

-

6.5

-

-

Echinoidea
Ophiuroidea

-

6.5

-

-

PISCES
Cottidae
Gadidae
Ammodytidae
Other fish

28.2

28.2

-

-

0.3

0.3

MISCELLANEOUS

24.2

-

-

9.5

SAND and ROCKS

-

-

-

7.5

#Stomachs

#_Empty

X wt. per stomach

length range (cm)

28

17

0.38

27-38

5

3

0.43

28-48

5

5

0

33-46

19
1
0.39
26-41

VII-51

Table VII-19. Part IV — stomach contents of fish species, as percent
weight, collected during Delaware II cruise 77-01

Stomach

contents

Alewife

COELENTERATA

+

Cerianthidae

-

Other coelenterates

+

POLYCHAETA

_

Aphrodi tiae

-

Other polycha

etes

-

CRUSTACEA

99.1

Caprellidea

-

Gamma r idea

96.4

Hyper idea

0.2

Cancridae

-

Crangonidae

-

Paguridae

-

Pandal idae

-

Sea
raven

Longhorn
sculpin

0.1

0.4

0.1

0.4

0.5

98.5

0.5

0.1

5.5
65.6

Isopoda

Euphausiacea
Other Crustacea

M0LLUSCA
Pelecypoda
Gastropoda
Cephalopoda

ECHINODERMATA
Ec hi no idea
Ophiuroidea

PISCES
Cottidae
Gadidae
Ammodytidae
Other fish

MISCELLANEOUS

SAND and ROCKS

2.2

0.5

0.9

#Stomachs 10

#Empty 0

X wt. per stomach 2.54

length range (cm) 22-49

0.2

0.2

27.3

99.3

60.8
2.0

0.3

-

36.5

0.3

-

0.7

-

-

5

2
15.34
22-49

12
2
0.95
18-22

VII-52

Table VII-20. Biological samples for GC-MS analysis

Type of Sample

Group 1 Group II

Cruise Station Cruise Station

Fish:

Cod

Haddock

Silver hake

Red hake

Yellowtail flounder

Winter flounder

Windowpane flounder
Invertebrates:

Sea scallops

Lobster

Sand dollar

DE 77-

•01

3

DE 77-01

38

it

8

27

M

3

24

it

10

24

ii

3

31

it

3

31

ii

3

DE 76-13

4

3

6

19

DE 77-01 39
DE 76-13 6
DE 77-01 34

Special samples:

Contents of cod stomach
containing oil

Winter flounder with
external smudge of oil

DE 76-13

29

VII-53

Table VTI-21. Oiled birds collected from Nantucket and Cape Cod,
December 21, 1976, to January 23, 1977

Species

Live

Dead

Murre (all species)
Common Loon
Razor-billed Auk
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Eider
Gannet
Kittiwake

Miscellaneous (three species)

Total

45
19
18

5

1

2

1
1

25

12

5

11

7
4

1
2

92

68

VII-54

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