Friday, December 17 



Weather Air: Mediiim visibility. Overcast. Rain and snow. West 



Conditions medium winds at 17 knots. 



(Daylight) 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% to starboard. 



USCG 0236: USCG Bittersweet on scene with boom; remains entire 



Operations 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 Heavy plume of 95 to 100 percent oil extends northwest for 



Characteristics 5 miles, then west for 3% miles. No sheen or slick. 



Coordination 1200: University of Rhode Island coordination meeting ends. 

 Meetings and 1400: Planning meeting with Woods Hole Oceanographic 

 Briefings Institution (WHOI) . 



II-5 



