Barrels of Deadly Poisonous Cyanide Adrift in the Gulf
Effective Date: 9/17/1973
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No .006
September 17, 1973
Geological Survey
Gulf of Mexico Area
Office of the Oil and Gas Supervisor
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Barrels of Deadly Poisonous Cyanide Adrift in the Gulf
The U.S. Coast Guard has advised this office of a ship collision on August 5,1973, 90 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula which resulted in the loss of 390barrels of highly poisonous sodium and potassium cyanide.
These barrels are two and one half feet high and sixteen inches in diameter,painted blue with white stenciling. Hurricane Delia has widely scattered thesebarrels throughout the Gulf.
Please advise all offshore personnel of the following:
1. If a barrel is sighted - do not try and recover, but note the time,location, and direction of drift.
2. Notify all sightings immediately to the Commander Eighth Coast GuardDistrict at A/C 504 527-6225.
These barrels are extremely dangerous and your help in locating them isgreatly appreciated.
[signed] J.B. Lowenhaupt Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area