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Timeline of Oil Impacts

Booms and skimmers were deployed to protect beaches.  Seasonal winds kept most
of the oil offshore, however, heavy concentrations of oil washed ashore at
Galveston and San Jose Island.  Lighter concentrations of oil impacted Padre
Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.  Oil came ashore on November 5 at Galveston
Jetties and East Beach, and cleanup began immediately.  Oil impacted the
Matagorda Peninsula on November 6.  On November 9, six barrels of oil impacted
437 yards of marshes and sand beaches around Smith Point and five areas on
Galveston Island.  The Smith Point area was the only inland area impacted by
oil.  The marsh areas were not cleaned up because response efforts could have
caused greater damage than the oiling.  Boom was deployed in the San Luis Pass
area and there was an attempt to deploy a Marco skimmer in that area.  A crane
from Galveston was necessary to deploy the skimmer.  

By November 12, a slick composed of sheen and mousse in windrows extended 8.5
miles WSW of the tanker.  Oil in the form of small tarballs impacted Padre
Island near Mansfield Pass on November 13.  Approximately eight barrels of oil
came ashore at Padre Island where no cleanup was done.  Heavy concentrations of
oil impacted Galveston beaches on November 18.  The heaviest impacts of oil
occurred near Jamaica Beach November 19-21.  On November 24, Jamaica Beach was
cleaned with Vacalls.  Streamers were observed near Bolivar Peninsula on
November 27.  Most of the oil burned in the ship or in the water near the ship,
however by December 7, a 19 mile long slick extended to the SSW of the tanker.  
Most of the oil spilled from the tanker was blended crude with the remainder the
heavier Nigerian crude.  Thirty-eight per cent of the oil carried by the Burmah
Agate was recovered through lightering operations.  Of the remaining oil, an
estimated 1.7 per cent was picked up by skimmers, .5 per cent impacted beaches,
48 per cent burned, and 12 per cent dispersed offshore.  Ultimately, 2,100
barrels impacted various beaches and marshes.