Mystery Sheen at Sun Bay Beach: Coast Guard Responds and Investigates Diesel Drum Link

The US Coast Guard report also highlighted a concerning detail: an individual in the water had been exposed to the unknown substance and required medical attention.

PUERTO RICO - On March 7, 2025, a mysterious sheen appeared along the shoreline of Sun Bay Beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico, prompting an immediate response from the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division (IMD).

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The incident was first reported by Emergency Medical Service personnel in Vieques, who noted a strong diesel odor and a visible sheen stretching approximately one mile along the beach. The U.S. Coast Guard report also highlighted a concerning detail: an individual in the water had been exposed to the unknown substance and required medical attention.

US Coast Guard: Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division personnel concluded response efforts, March 8, 2025, to the mystery sheen reported on the Sun Bay Beach shoreline in Vieques, March 7, 2025, after no further sheening or signs of pollution were observed in the water or shoreline. Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division personnel continue to investigate the cause and potential source of this incident.

This sparked an urgent investigation into the nature and source of the pollution, with the Coast Guard prioritizing public safety and environmental protection. To assess the situation, Coast Guard watchstanders deployed an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, carrying an environmental response investigator, while coordinating with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and the Vieques Municipal Office of Emergency Management for a thorough shoreline evaluation.

By March 8, 2025, the Coast Guard concluded its active response efforts at Sun Bay Beach after determining that the mystery sheen, observed the previous day, had dissipated overnight and left no recoverable traces or new signs of pollution.

According to Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Coakley, a Marine Science Technician with Sector San Juan, the sheen was deemed unrecoverable, and no further sheening was detected during a first-light inspection on Saturday. However, the investigation into the incident’s origin continued, with attention turning to a drum recovered by local authorities on March 6 near the beach.

This drum, containing fuel with diesel-like characteristics, emerged as a potential source of the pollution. Chief Warrant Officer Jamie Testa, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, emphasized the Coast Guard’s commitment to safeguarding public health and the marine environment while urging beachgoers to avoid the water and heed local emergency response guidance.

US Coast Guard: Photo of drum being investigated by the Coast Guard as a possible source of pollution for a mystery sheen that was reported on Sun Bay Beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico, March 7, 2025. The drum was recovered by local authorities in the water near Sun Bay Beach containing fuel product with diesel characteristics, March 6, 2025.

The incident at Sun Bay Beach underscores the challenges of responding to environmental threats with limited initial information. The Coast Guard’s rapid deployment of air and ground resources, coupled with interagency collaboration, enabled a swift assessment and containment effort.

While the immediate response phase has ended, the ongoing investigation into the drum and its connection to the sheen reflects a broader effort to identify and mitigate the root cause of the pollution.

As of March 9, 2025, the situation remains under scrutiny, with the Coast Guard working to ensure that any lingering risks to Vieques’ coastal ecosystem and community are fully addressed.

Coast Guard investigates unknown sheen at Sun Bay Beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico: Full Report