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.
OLIVA, Tristan da Cunha, 2011
In the early hours of 16th March 2011, bulk carrier OLIVA while on transit from Brazil to Singapore grounded on Nightingale Island, which is part of the Tristan da Cunha Island group in the South Atlantic.
Categories: United Kingdom, Oil, Bulk Carrier, Africa, Environmental effects
GULSAR ANA, Madagascar, 2009
On 26th August 2009, the laden bulk carrier GULSER ANA ran aground on the southern coast of Madagascar, approximately 1.2 km offshore. Within a few days the vessel suffered serious structural deterioration which led to an immediate and significant oil spill and loss of rock phosphate cargo
Categories: Madagascar, Bulk Carrier, Africa, Environmental effects, Disposal
HEBEI SPIRIT, Republic of Korea, 2007
On 7th December 2007, the VLCC HEBEI SPIRIT (146,848GT, built 1993), laden with 209,000 tonnes of four different Middle Eastern crude oils, was struck by a crane barge whilst at anchor off Taean, South Korea.
Categories: Korea, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia, Response Techniques, Environmental effects, Economic effects, Disposal, Compensation, Dispersants
SOLAR 1, Philippines, 2006
On 11th August 2006, the tanker SOLAR 1, chartered by Petron Corporation and carrying approximately 2,000 tonnes of intermediate fuel oil, encountered problems in rough seas and sank in the Guimaras Straits, some 10 nautical miles south of Guimaras Island, Republic of the Philippines.
Categories: Philippines, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia, Environmental effects
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
AMOCO CADIZ, France, 1978
The tanker AMOCO CADIZ ran aground off the coast of Brittany on 16th March 1978 following a steering gear failure. Over a period of two weeks the entire cargo of 223,000 tonnes of light Iranian and Arabian crude oil and 4,000 tonnes of bunker fuel was released into heavy seas. Much of the oil quickly formed a viscous water-in-oil emulsion, increasing the volume of pollutant by up to five times. By the end of April oil and emulsion had contaminated 320km of the Brittany coastline, and had extended as far east as the Channel Islands.
Categories: France, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Environmental effects
ARGO MERCHANT, United States, 1976
ARGO MERCHANT ran aground on Nantucket Shoals, off Massachusetts, USA, on 15th December 1976, and over the next month spilled her entire cargo (28,000 tonnes) of Venezuelan No 6 fuel oil and cutter stock.
Categories: United States, Oil, Oil Tanker, Americas, Environmental effects
METULA, Chile, 1974
METULA grounded in the eastern Strait of Magellan, on 9th August 1974. Around 47,000 tonnes of light Arabian crude oil and 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil are estimated to be have been lost.
Categories: Chile, Oil, Oil Tanker, Americas, Fate of Oil Spills, Environmental effects
TORREY CANYON, United Kingdom, 1967
TORREY CANYON ran aground on Pollard Rock on the Seven Stones Reef, near Lands End, Cornwall on 18th March 1967. Thousands of tonnes of oil were soon spilling from the stricken vessel's ruptured tanks and during the next 12 days the entire cargo of approximately 119,000 tonnes of Kuwait crude oil was lost.
Categories: United Kingdom, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Environmental effects