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.
AGIP ABRUZZO, Italy, 1991
On the 10th April 1991, the ro-ro ferry MOBY PRINCE collided with the tanker AGIP ABRUZZO (98,544 GT; built 1977) in the Italian port of Livorno. AGIP ABRUZZO was carrying around 80,000 tonnes of Iranian light crude oil at the time. The collision caused serious damage to the starboard aft tanks, resulting in the release of ~2,000 tonnes of crude oil and an unknown amount of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 380 bunkers.
ARAGON, off Madeira, 1989
On the 29th December, 1989, whilst under tow following steering gear failure, the Spanish tanker ARAGON suffered heavy weather damage some 360 miles off the coast of Madeira. This resulted in the loss of about 25,000 tonnes of Mexican Maya crude from the No.1 centre tank.
Categories: Portugal, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe
KHARK 5, off Morocco, 1989
Early in the morning of 19th December 1989, Iranian tanker KHARK 5, carrying 280,000 tonnes of Iranian heavy crude oil, was damaged in a storm, exploded and caught fire approximately 150 nautical miles off the coast of Morocco, north east of the Canary Islands.
Categories: Morocco, Oil, Oil Tanker, Africa
EXXON VALDEZ, Alaska, United States, 1989
EXXON VALDEZ grounded on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on 24th March 1989. About 37,000 tonnes of Alaska North Slope crude escaped into the Sound and spread widely.
Categories: United States, Oil, Oil Tanker, Americas
ODYSSEY, off Canada, 1988
On 10th November 1988, the Liberian tanker ODYSSEY, almost fully loaded with a cargo of 132,157 tonnes of North Sea Brent crude oil, broke into two and sank in heavy weather in the North Atlantic 700 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia while on voyage from Sullom Voe, Shetland Islands to Come by Chance, Newfoundland. Fire started on the stern section as it sank and the surrounding oil caught fire.
Categories: Canada, Oil, Oil Tanker, Americas
NOVA, off Iran, 1985
During the night of 6th December 1985 very large crude carrier (VLCC) NOVA, carrying 188,000 tonnes of Iranian Light crude oil, collided with ultra large crude carrier (ULCC) MAGNUM, in ballast, approximately 90 nautical miles south-east of Khark Island in the Gulf of Iran.
Categories: Iran, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia
CASTILLO DE BELLVER, South Africa, 1983
CASTILLO DE BELLVER was carrying 252,000 tonnes of light crude oil (Murban and Upper Zakum), when it caught fire about 70 miles north-west of Cape Town, South Africa.
Categories: South Africa, Oil, Oil Tanker, Africa
TANIO, France, 1980
On the 7th of March 1980, the tanker TANIO was carrying 26,000 tonnes of No.6 fuel oil, before breaking in two during violent weather conditions off the coast of Brittany, France. As a result approximately 13,500 tonnes of cargo oil was spilled.
Categories: France, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Economic effects
INDEPENDENTA, Bosphorus, Turkey, 1979
On 15th November 1979, Romanian tanker INDEPENDENTA collided with the Greek cargo ship EVRIALI, off Haydarpasa at the entrance to the Bosphorus, in Turkey. A part of the cargo of 93,800 tonnes of Libyan Es Sider crude oil spilled and caught fire.
Categories: Turkey, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia
ATLANTIC EMPRESS, West Indies, 1979
On 19th of July 1979, two fully loaded VLCCs (very large crude carriers), the ATLANTIC EMPRESS and AEGEAN CAPTAIN, were involved in a collision approximately 10 miles off Tobago during a tropical rainstorm. Both vessels began leaking oil immediately after the collision and both caught fire.
Categories: West Indies, Oil, Oil Tanker, Americas