There was a rumour that the oil spill could be moving west in the general direction of the mouth of the Mississippi but a survey of a five mile radius around the Southwest Pass found no evidence of the presence of oil.

However, precautions are being introduced with the establishment of a number of cleaning stations. If ships, including cruise ships, need to be cleaned then a plan to do so has been put in place. The plan includes, deep cleaning of a heavily soiled or oiled vessel. This would take place at an offshore cleaning station located about four miles southwest of the Southwest Pass. Other inbound ships which are not as badly oiled would be cleaned while still travelling. Two crew boats would travel alongside the vessel and pressure wash it, while the ship moves at slow speed. Ships that have already docked will be cleaned in the vicinity of Venice and Boothville. An outbound offshore cleaning station is also established away from the main area of oil spill, and will clean ships using pressure washing.

Finally, a cleaning station has been established at a 33 mile marker in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.