Apex Houston

Graphic California map showing the locations of Apex Houston

A common murre

The tank barge Apex Houston lost a hatch cover while being towed from the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez to Long Beach, spilling an estimated 25,800 gallons of crude oil.

  • LOCATION: Offshore Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties.
  • DATE: January 28, 1986 to February 4, 1986
  • INCIDENT SUMMARY: The tank barge Apex Houston lost a hatch cover while being towed from the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez to Long Beach, spilling an estimated 25,800 gallons of crude oil.
  • RESPONSIBLE PARTY: E.A. Viner International Co., Inc.
  • NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and WildlifeService, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • RESOURCES IMPACTED: Birds (8,978 estimated killed, including 6,287 Common Murres)
  • SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the case for $5.4 million. $4.9 million was allocated to Common Murre recolonization, while $500,000 was allocated to acquisition of old growth redwoods for protection of Marbled Murrelets.
  • STATUS OF RESTORATION: Restoration projects completed.

Available Documents

Restoration Project Monitoring Reports

External Links

Contact

Michael Anderson
Email: Michael.Anderson@wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 375-6672

Last update : 7/25/2023 2:10:17 PM

Contact Us

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
(916) 445-0411 for General CDFW Information

Office of Spill Prevention and Response
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(916) 375-8580 for OSPR Information

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