On February 4, 1999, the M/V New Carissa, a bulk cargo ship in ballast, went aground on Coos Bay Oregon’s North Spit and within a few days began leaking oil. After an attempt to burn off the vessel’s fuel oil and after the ship had split in two and spilled more oil, the bow section was eventually refloated and towed offshore, only to break its tow and re-ground farther north on Oregon’s coast near Waldport. There, it spilled additional oil. On March 8, 1999, the bow section was again refloated, towed to sea, and sunk on March 10. During this incident, estimates of the total amount of oil released from the M/V New Carissa ranged from 25,000 to 140,000 gallons. The stern section of the vessel remains stranded in the surf near the entrance to Coos Bay.