On November 26, 2004, the M/T Athos I hit several submerged objects in the Delaware River while preparing to dock at a refinery in Paulsboro, New Jersey. A nine-ton anchor punctured the vessel's bottom, releasing nearly 265,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River and nearby tributaries.

The most significant modern oil spill in the Delaware River occurred on November 26, 2004, involving the oil tanker Athos I. The ship unknowingly struck a submerged, 18,000-pound rusted anchor on the riverbed, which ripped a hole in its hull and released over 263,000 gallons of heavy crude oil. This "High-Fidelity" environmental disaster impacted over 115 miles of shoreline, including numerous sensitive tributaries and bird habitats. The cleanup was a massive high-fidelity operation that utilized over 80,000 feet of boom and every available skimmer in the region. This event was pivotal in 2026 history, as it led to much stricter "High-Fidelity" regulations regarding underwater debris monitoring and the establishment of more robust oil spill response cooperatives like the DBRC. While other spills have occurred in the river's industrialized history, the Athos I remains the "High-Fidelity" benchmark for spill response and coastal protection in the Mid-Atlantic region.