Port of Catoosa
05/31/2011
USA
Background
On 31 May 2011, during routine safety operations at the CF Industries chemical terminal in the Port of Catoosa (Oklahoma, US), a human error caused a hose to be dropped into the water during ammonia loading operations on barges operated by Southern Towing of Memphis.
The gas, highly soluble in water, led to oxygen depletion and fish mortality, in particular catfish, around the barge.
Spill response
The response operations implemented by CF Industries – a fertilizer manufacturer – was supervised by the USCG and consisted of oxygenating the water by mechanical mixing using boat propellers.
The dead fish were contained using booms then recovered manually using scoop nets.
Spill areaPort area
Pollutant typeAmmonia
OwnerSouthern Towing of Memphis