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.
GOLDEN RAY, United States, 2019
On 8th September 2019, the roll on, roll off vessel GOLDEN RAY developed a list and was grounded at the mouth of the Brunswick River, Georgia, while leaving the Port of Brunswick.
Categories: United States, Oil, Non Tanker, RORO, Americas
AGIA ZONI II, Greece, 2017
At approximately 02:30h on 10th September 2017, the chemical/product tanker AGIA ZONI II sank close to Atalanti Island, in the Piraeus anchorage area. The vessel reportedly had 2,194 metric tons of heavy fuel oil and 370 metric tons of marine gas oil on board, an unknown quantity of which spilled into the sea.
Categories: Greece, Oil, Chemical Tanker, Product Tanker, Europe
AMADEO 1, Chile, 2014
On 18th August 2014, the Ro-Ro ferry AMADEO 1 (GT 9,737) en route from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt, grounded in Kirke Canal, 40 NM south west of Puerto Natales, in southern Patagonia, Chile.
Categories: Chile, Oil, Non Tanker, RORO, Americas
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
ST THOMAS DE AQUINAS, Philippines, 2013
On 16th August 2013, RORO passenger vessel ST THOMAS DE AQUINAS collided with containership SULPICIO EXPRESS 7 on approach to port in Cebu, Philippines. The STA sank within 15 minutes, settling in 40m of water. The incident resulted in the loss of over 100 lives of the 813 passengers and crew on board STA at the time.
Categories: Philippines, Oil, RORO, Asia
ALFA 1, Greece, 2012
On 5th March 2012, the Greek tanker ALFA I (1,648 GT; built 1972) made contact with a submerged wreck in Elefsis Bay, Greece.
Categories: Greece, Oil, Oil Tanker, Europe, Compensation
TK BREMEN, France, 2011
On 16th December 2011, the general cargo ship TK BREMEN dragged anchor whilst in ballast under stormy conditions and sought shelter outside the port of Lorient. The vessel subsequently ran aground on the beach of Kerminihy, Erdeven, France resulting in a spillage of an estimated 70 tonnes of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 180.
Categories: France, Oil, Bulk Carrier, Europe, Response Techniques
GOLDEN TRADER, Denmark, 2011
On 10th September 2011, the bulk carrier GOLDEN TRADER collided with the fishing vessel VIDAR approximately twenty nautical miles off the western coast of mainland Denmark resulting in the spillage of approximately 205 tonnes of intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO 180).
Categories: Denmark, Oil, Bulk Carrier, Europe
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
GDANSK, Venezuela, 2011
On 28th January 2011, the bulk carrier GDANSK was loaded with 35,100 MT of iron ore when she ran aground outside Ferrominera Port, Puerto Ordaz, on the Orinoco River in Venezuela. As a result of the grounding an unknown quantity of fuel oil was lost from the vessel.
Categories: Venezuela, Oil, Bulk Carrier, Americas