Case Studies

ARGO MERCHANT, United States, 1976

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

Read more

URQUIOLA, Spain, 1976

URQUIOLA, Spain, 1976

On 12th May 1976 the tanker URQUIOLA struck bottom on entering the port of La Coruña and began leaking oil. It was estimated that 100,000 tonnes of Arabian Light crude oil was spilt during this incident.

Categories: Spain, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Dispersants

Read more

JAKOB MAERSK, Leixoes, Portugal, 1975

JAKOB MAERSK, Leixoes, Portugal, 1975

On 29th January 1975 the Danish tanker JAKOB MAERSK struck bottom while manoeuvring onto the berth with the aid of tugs at the port of Leixoes, northern Portugal. It was carrying ~88,000 tonnes of oil, comprising Iranian light crude oil cargo and bunker fuel oil when the incident occurred.

Categories: Portugal, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe

Read more

METULA, Chile, 1974

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

Read more

SEA STAR, Gulf of Oman, 1972

SEA STAR, Gulf of Oman, 1972

The South Korean tanker SEA STAR was on voyage from Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when it collided with the Brazilian tanker HORTA BARBOSA in the Gulf of Oman on 19th December 1972.

Categories: Oman, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia

Read more

TORREY CANYON, United Kingdom, 1967

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

Read more

Search filters