Marine Investigation Report: Anchor Strike of Underwater Pipeline and Eventual Crude Oil Release, San Pedro Bay, Near Huntington Beach, California, October 1, 2021

This report discusses the October 1, 2021, crude oil release resulting from contact of ships’ anchors with an underwater pipeline in San Pedro Bay near Huntington Beach, California. Safety issues identified in this report include insufficient distance between anchorage locations and the pipeline, need for notification of potential pipeline damage to the pipeline operator, need for improvements to Vessel Traffic Service vessel monitoring systems, incorrect response by pipeline controllers to leak alarms, lack of postaccident alcohol and other drug testing for pipeline controllers, and the need for pipeline operators to implement pipeline safety management systems. As a result of this investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board makes six new safety recommendations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, US Coast Guard, and the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2401.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA22FM001.aspx
• Corporate Authors:

  National Transportation Safety Board

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Publication Date: 2024-1-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Glossary; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 106p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anchorages; Crash causes; Crash investigation; Oil spills; Pipeline safety; Pipelines; Water transportation crashes
• Geographic Terms: Huntington Beach (California); San Pedro Bay
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Pipelines; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01907803
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MIR-24-01, Investigation ID DCA22FM001
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 12 2024 10:31AM