Case Studies
This section contains summaries of major spills from 1967 to the present day, looking at the incident, response, our involvement together with selected bibliographies and web links, where available.
ATHOS 1, USA, 2004
On 26th November 2004, the oil tanker ATHOS 1 struck an abandoned submerged and uncharted anchor on the approach to the Citgo refinery dock on the Delaware River, Paulsboro, New Jersey. The anchor punctured the single hull of ATHOS 1, resulting in a release of ~1,000 tonnes of Venezuelan Bachaquero crude oil.
ROCKNES, Norway, 2004
On 19th January 2004, the specialised bulk carrier ROCKNES (17,765 GT; 2001 built) laden with a cargo of rock ran into difficulties near Bergen, Norway and capsized, claiming the lives of 18 crew members. The vessel had on board 466 tonnes of Intermediate Fuel Oil 380 and 78 tonnes of marine diesel as well as lubrication oils.
Categories: Norway, Oil, Bulk Carrier, Europe
TASMAN SPIRIT, Pakistan, 2003
The Maltese tanker TASMAN SPIRIT grounded at the entrance to Karachi Port, Pakistan in the early hours of 27th July 2003. The vessel was carrying 67,800 tonnes of Iranian Light crude oil destined for the national refinery in Karachi.
Categories: Pakistan, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia, Environmental effects
PRESTIGE, Spain/France, 2002
On 13th November 2002, the tanker PRESTIGE (81,564 DWT), carrying a cargo of 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, suffered hull damage in heavy seas off northern Spain. She broke in two on 19 November and 63,000 tonnes of oil were estimated lost from the PRESTIGE.
Categories: France, Spain, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Economic effects
BALTIC CARRIER, off Denmark, 2001
On 29th March 2001, the chemical/product tanker BALTIC CARRIER collided with the bulk carrier TERN in the Baltic Sea between Germany and Denmark, 30 NM north east of Rostock. Neither vessel sank, but approximately 2,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil was lost from BALTIC CARRIER’s cargo of some 30,000 tonnes.
Categories: Denmark, Oil, Product Tanker, Europe
NATUNA SEA, Indonesia/Singapore/Malaysia, 2000
Tanker NATUNA SEA (51,095 GT; built 1980) grounded in Indonesian waters in the Singapore Strait on 3rd October 2000. At the time of the incident, the vessel was laden with 70,000 tonnes of Nile Blend crude oil. The grounding damaged a number of cargo tanks and estimates put the spill size at about 7,000 tonnes based on ullage measurements. Following the lightering of the remaining cargo, the vessel was re-floated successfully on 12th October 2000.
Categories: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Oil, Oil Tanker
ERIKA, West of France, 1999
The Maltese tanker ERIKA, carrying some 31,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil as cargo, broke in two in a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay on 12th December 1999, 60 miles from the coast of Brittany. All members of the crew were rescued by the French maritime rescue services. Some 19,800 tonnes of oil were spilled. The bow sank on 12th December and the stern on the following day.
Categories: France, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Disposal
SEA EMPRESS, Wales, UK, 1996
The oil tanker SEA EMPRESS, carrying 130,000 tonnes of Forties Blend North Sea crude oil, ran aground in the entrance to Milford Haven, South West Wales on the evening of 15th February 1996
Categories: United Kingdom, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Dispersants
SEKI, Fujairah, 1994
On the 30th March 1994 the tanker BAYNUNAH collided with the tanker SEKI (153,506 GRT) off of the coast of Fujairah (United Arab Emirates) causing SEKI’s No. 1 port cargo wing tank to rupture. Although BAYNUNAH did not spill any oil as it was in ballast, SEKI was carrying 293,000 tonnes of Iranian light crude oil, of which 16,000 tonnes spilt subsequently into the Gulf of Oman.
Categories: Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia
BRAER, UK, 1993
Following engine failure, BRAER ran aground in severe weather conditions on Garth's Ness, Shetland on 5th January 1993.
Categories: United Kingdom, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe