1996 Tank Barge North Cape

On January 19, 1996, during a severe winter storm, the tugboat Scandia caught fire along the southern coast of Rhode Island. The crew abandoned the tug and the barge it was towing, the North Cape. Both vessels ran aground near Moonstone Beach, South Kingstown, R.I., and the barge spilled about 2700 of its 12500 metric ton cargo of No. 2 (diesel) fuel oil.

Of the 14 fuel compartments in the barge, eight breached during the grounding. Because of the high winds (60 mph) and rough seas (16 to 23 feet), the oil was well mixed and dispersed throughout the local area within 24 hours. The spill closed approximately 250 square miles of fishing and shellfishing areas for as long as five months and killed more than 10 million lobsters, approximately 500 birds (including the federally-endangered piping plover), over 40 million surf clams, and many other benthic and pelagic animals, resulting in the most damaging man-made accident in the history of the state of Rhode Island.