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.
SILVER, Morocco, 2013
On 23rd December 2013, after encountering heavy weather, the chemical and product tanker SILVER grounded on a sandbank off the coast of Tan-Tan in South Morocco while entering the port of El Ouatia. The vessel was carrying 4,940 tonnes of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) 380 as cargo, 190 tonnes of HFO 380 as bunker fuel and 24 tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (MGO).
Categories: Morocco, Oil, Product Tanker, Africa
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
KATINA P, off Mozambique, 1992
On 17th April 1992 the tanker KATINA P was disabled by a freak wave while transiting the Mozambique Channel. It was carrying 66,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil en-route from Venezuela to the United Arab Emirates. The vessel lost hull plating amidships resulting in a release of approximately 3,000 tonnes of cargo.
Categories: Mozambique, Oil, Oil Tanker, Africa
ABT SUMMER, off Angola, 1991
On 28th May 1991, ABT SUMMER, fully laden with a cargo of 260,000 tonnes of Iranian heavy crude oil, experienced an explosion and a fire about 900 miles off the coast of Angola.
Categories: Algeria, Angola, Oil, Oil Tanker, Africa
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
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