Pollution

Citation

(1999), "Pollution", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 8 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.1999.07308dac.001

Pollution

Pollution

27 June 1998 - New Orleans, USA

Keywords: Pollution, Marine transport, Oil

Following received from Coast Guard New Orleans, timed 2230, UTC: Tug Christine Cenac, (69 gt, built 1969) towing two barges loaded with crude oil, made contact with tug American Heritage, (1,415 gt, built 1976) pushing grain barges, when overtaking at Mile 179, near Donaldsonville in River Mississippi about 0230, local time, today. The lead barge containing crude oil was holed and leaked 1,600 barrels of oil into the river. The river is presently closed while cleanup operations are in progress.

27 June 1998 - Tugs American Heritage and Christine Cenac collided on the Mississippi River in Louisiana today, dumping more than 69,000 gallons of crude oil into the river and stopping vessel traffic, authorities said. The oil spill posed a threat to drinking water supplies for thousands of people down-river from the accident site, about 80 miles above New Orleans, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said. Oil containment booms were placed around all water intake sites on the Mississippi down-river from the spill to avoid contamination, Lt. Cmdr. Laticia Argenti said. The Coast Guard closed 13.5 miles of the river to all marine traffic to aid cleanup efforts, she said. The clean-up was expected to take several days "but we'll re-open the river as soon as possible", she said. No injuries were reported. Argenti said American Heritage was pushing 30 grain barges when she collided with Christine Cenac. Christine Cenac was pushing two tank barges containing 428,400 gallons of sweet crude, one of which began leaking. Containment booms have been set up around the tank barges, which were pushed to the river bank, she said. Both vessels were headed down-river when they collided, she said. The cause of the accident was under investigation by the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

Initially, the Coast Guard closed 13.5 miles of the river to all shipping to aid cleanup efforts, but extended that to 40 miles, a Coast Guard official said. The clean-up was expected to take several days, but authorities said they hope to reopen one-way traffic by midnight.

27 June 1998 - The US Coast Guard re-opened the Mississippi to northbound shipping this evening, almost 19 hours after tugs American Heritage and Christine Cenac collided, a spokesman said. The river remained closed to southbound traffic and all vessels and barges contaminated by the crude oil slick stretching more than 40 miles, the Coast Guard spokesman said. Contaminated vessels have to be cleaned before getting underway, he said. The tugs collided at 0400, EDT, today, about 80 miles upriver from New Orleans.

28 June 1998 - Efforts are continuing to clean-up a 69,000-gallon oil spill in the River Mississippi following a collision between tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage. A 14.5 mile stretch of the river remains closed to south-bound traffic, while reports say the resulting oil slick stretches some 40 miles along the Mississippi. The US Coast Guard said the incident was causing congestion on the river, with eight tugs towing 20 barges between them, as well as three deep-draught vessels held up by the collision. Reports said the American Heritage was pushing 30 grain barges when she collided with the Christine Cenac, which was pushing two tank barges containing sweet crude. The lead barge was holed and subsequently began leaking crude. The Coast Guard said a deflection and absorbent boom had been deployed from the spill site at Mile 179.5 as far down as Mile 100 to assist in the collection of the oil, although the actual sheen had stretched as far as Mile 138. Clean-up efforts are expected to continue through to Tuesday (June 30) or Wednesday. A safety plan has been formulated and once this is approved lightering of the holed tug will begin. US-based salvage company Bisso Marine has been appointed and five other companies are also assisting the clean-up efforts, the Coast Guard said. The American Heritage has been moved to the New Orleans shipyard. The Coast Guard said any hazard to drinking water supplies in the area from the spill had hopefully been diverted, by shutting off the water intakes from the river in the area of the stricken vessel.

28 June 1998 - The Mississippi River re-opened to shipping tonight, while workers continued to mop off 69,000 gallons of crude dumped in the waterway yesterday when tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage collided, authorities said. Although northbound river traffic began moving through the accident area 80 miles north of New Orleans last night, down-river traffic remained blocked until 2100, EDT, Coast Guard spokesman Chris Haley said. Southbound traffic is being controlled by the Coast Guard on the 13.5-mile section of river most affected by the spill, he said. Oil-covered vessels and barges will not be allowed to move until they have been cleaned, Haley said. This morning, workers began pumping crude oil from the tank barge damaged in the collision while an estimated 300 others were deployed along a 40 mile stretch of river to mop up the spilled oil. Cmdr. Daniel Whiting said most of the oil stopped about 57 miles upriver from New Orleans although a light sheen was visible for miles beyond. The pumping operation is expected to continue through the night and most of tomorrow, Haley said. The damaged barge will not be moved until the operation is completed.

29 June 1998 - Crews are cleaning up a 69,000-gallon oil spill which is still affecting traffic on the busy Mississippi River in Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. About 200 workers are involved in the clean-up today at the Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsville. So far, the Coast Guard is calling the clean-up very successful but it may continue for a few more days. Mark Hamilton, supervisor of the Coast Guard's Marine Safety detachment at Baton Rouge, says traffic remains under restriction as the clean-up crews work to limit the spread of the oil spill. At this time, the river has been re-opened to tugs pushing barges, but remains closed to ships and freighters headed south toward the Gulf. The Christine Cenac, which was pushing two barges, each with 420,000 gallons of oil, was attempting to pass the American Heritage, which was pushing 33 barges loaded with grain. One of the barges broke open and spilled the 69,000 gallons of oil.

The leaking tank barge is being lightered. The River Mississippi is still closed to down bound traffic between Mile 178 and Mile 180 but there are no restrictions to up bound traffic.

29 June 1998 - The Mississippi River has re-opened to shipping, after 69,000 gallons of crude oil were spilt in a collision between tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage, although workers are still continuing the clean-up. Cenac Towing of Houma has already spent $300,000 on the clean-up. The cause of the accident will be determined by the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

29 June 1998 - An oil barge (tank barge CTCO 211, 574 gt) damaged Saturday in a tug (tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage) collision on the Mississippi River began leaking crude again today and was in danger of sinking, while shipping was disrupted, the Coast Guard said. Clean-up crews working to unload the remaining 200,000 gallons of oil were taken by surprise as the tank I barge started leaking at a rate of 20 gallons a minute. The fresh oil spill was contained by booms and the barge was being tied to riverside trees to stop her sinking.

Authorities estimated the amount of oil lost from the barge was in excess of 70,000 gallons. "We're just not sure how much more than that has leaked", Chief Warrant Officer Chris Haley said. Before the barge began leaking again, the total spill was estimated at 69,000 gallons. "So far, we've been able to contain the oil around the barge since she started leaking again", Haley added. Divers who made an underwater structural survey of the barge this afternoon reported several small holes below the waterline and a 40-foot gash, seven feet wide at some points, near the back of the barge, Coast Guard spokesman Frank Dunn said. "It looks like the damage is more extensive than we first thought, but it certainly explains the problems we've had" with the barge listing while workers tried to offload he said. In an effort to keep the barge from sinking, workers were attaching cable from the barge to trees on the riverbank late today, Dunn said. A 600-ton derrick barge with a crane was being moved upriver from New Orleans, he said. After it arrives tomorrow morning, workers will try to place straps, attached to the crane, under the leaking barge to support her in a sling while the remaining oil is pumped out, Dunn said. Nine deep draught vessels and nine tugs with 86 barges were backed up awaiting passage south by this afternoon, he said. Southbound shipping on the Mississippi was blocked again at 0400, EDT, today amid concerns it was hampering the cleanup. The waterway was open to controlled down-river traffic for only seven hours before it was shut down again, the Coast Guard reported. Northbound traffic along the 13 and 1/2 miles of river near the accident site, 80 miles upriver from New Orleans, resumed Saturday night, the Coast Guard reported. Oil-contaminated vessels and barges that were down-river when the spill occurred will not be allowed to move until they have been cleaned, a lengthy and labour-intensive process, Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Chris Haley said two barge fleeting companies, Cooper T. Smith and Webber, had about 600 barges that would have to be cleaned, he said. More than a dozen companies involved in cleaning the river have deployed 300 workers to mop up the spill and 20,595 feet of containment booms to isolate pockets of oil and protect water intake pipes in communities that rely on the river for drinking water. The cause of the accident will be determined by the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

2 July 1998 - A press report, dated today, states: Collision between tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage: Deepwater vessels headed for the Gulf of Mexico were allowed to pass through an oil spill site along the Mississippi River near Darrow on Wednesday (July 1). Five of nine vessels that had been anchored above the spill made their way down river toward the open sea to avoid disturbing cleanup efforts. About 12,000 ft of containment boom has been deployed in the cleanup effort, which involves five oil skimmers and more than 30 vessels. On Wednesday, the cleanup crews began removing some of the 340,000 gallons still in the barges. The incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard.

3 July 1998 - Following received from Coast Guard New Orleans, timed 1416, UTC: tank barge CTCO 211, damaged following collision between tugs Christine Cenac and American Heritage. Clean-up operations continuing and expected to be completed today.

9 July 1998 - Cenac Towing Company spent US$2 million to clean up a crude oil spill estimated at 80,000 gallons from its tank barge CTCO 211, according to the US Coast Guard. The spill into the Mississippi River slowed traffic for five and a half days between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Cenac and the Coast Guard mounted a "backward response" completing all downstream shoreline clean-up a day before salvage crews finally plugged the leaking barge, said Mark Hamilton, commander of the USCG Marine Safety Office in Baton Rouge. Lightering problems encountered on 28 June, the second day of the spill, made the reverse strategy necessary, Hamilton said. Driven aground by her tug after she was holed in a collision, CTCO 211 rested on willow stumps and began rocking when crews tried to unload her, he said. Later, divers found extensive damage. A gash 12 metres long and two metres wide had opened two port cargo tanks below the water line, and oil from a third tank was leaking through a cracked bulkhead into one of the torn tanks, Hamilton said. To contain the continuing leak, estimated at about 42 gallons per hour, crews ringed the barge with five containment barriers and worked five skimmers around the clock for more than five days. After a derrick crane from Bisso Marine secured the barge and salvors emptied the vessel on 2 July, absorbents were sufficient to mop up the spill site, he said. Oil collected in six river bends as far as 65km down stream, according to the USCG. However, crews finished cleaning the last two of those sites on 1 July, Hamilton said. The USCG reported sighting one oiled bird, but no other environmental damage. The spill affected river traffic. The Coast Guard initially closed the river, then established a safety zone regulated by vessel traffic control post. The VTC directed five vessels and 59 tows containing 397 barges past the spill site from 0700, local time, 1 July to 0700, local time, 2 July, Hamilton reports. The USCG lifted traffic restrictions after salvage crews finished lightering the barge at 1500, local time, 2 July, Hamilton said.

29 June 1998 - Singapore

Keywords: Pollution, Marine transport, Oil

The Polish master of s tanker Orapin Global, involved in Singapore's worst oil spill, pleaded guilty today to charges of reckless navigation. The plea by Jan Sokolowski, master of the vessel when she was in collision with m tanker Evoikos in October, was a surprise. The Singapore court had set aside five weeks for the case and after Sokolowski pleaded guilty the judge gave prosecutors time to decide what to do about similar charges against Michael Chalkitis, the Greek master of Evoikos. The court then started a sentencing hearing by watching a video about the incident. Singapore's potential compensation claims, largely for the clean-up, would be lower than some industry estimates of "hundreds of millions of dollars", the Ministry of Communications said early this year. "This is estimated to be within the limit which Singapore can claim under the Civil Liability Convention 1969. We are confident that the claims will be met in full," it said. The claim limit was $28 million, a Maritime and Port Authority official said.

3 July 1998 - The Greek master of m tanker Evoikos involved in Singapore's worst oil spill pleaded guilty today to charges of not taking timely action to avoid a collision and failing to keep a proper look-out. The plea by Michael Chalkitis followed an admission of guilt on Monday (June 29) by Jan Sokolowski, the Polish master of s tanker Orapin Global, to charges of negligent navigation and speeding. Both guilty pleas were a surprise and cut short what had been expected to be a long and complicated trial for which the court had set aside five weeks. The court will start hearing mitigation pleas on Tuesday (July 7) ahead of sentencing. Lawyers involved in the case said the scene was now set for the second round of trials for civil claims and counter-claims for compensation. These would include claims for damage to the Evoikos, lost cargo and the massive clean-up bill. Today, Chalkitis, 58, pleaded guilty to a charge that he "failed in ample time to take sufficient action to avoid a collision with Orapin Global". He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of failing to keep a proper look-out. The first charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a Singapore $50,000 (US$30,000) fine, and the second a fine of up to S$10,000. Oraphin Global Captain Sokolowski, 54, faces up to six months in jail and a S$1,000 fine for negligent navigation as well as a fine of up to $10,000 for speeding.

14 July 1998 - The masters of two tankers involved in Singapore's worst oil spill were sentenced to brief jail terms today. Jan Sokolowski, the Polish master of s tanker Orapin Global, was sentenced to two months for reckless navigation. Michael Chalkitis, the Greek master of m tanker Evoikos, was sentenced to three months. Lawyers said Chalkitis, 58, who could have been jailed for two years on a charge of not keeping a proper look out, would appeal against the jail term. He was freed on bail of S$180,000 (US$105,000). They said Sokolowski, 54, who could have been jailed for six months, had not decided whether to appeal against his jail term for reckless navigation, a charge on which he was also fined S$1,000. He was fined S$10,000, the maximum, for speeding. Chalkitis was also fined S$50,000, again the maximum, for not taking appropriate evasive action and S$10,000 for not keeping a proper lookout. The two ships collided 15 October in the Singapore Strait, off one of the world's busiest ports, and 29,000 tonnes of heavy marine fuel oil spilled into the sea from a huge gash in the side of the Evoikos. The prosecution had pressed for stiff deterrent sentences on both men, especially for Chalkitis, arguing that as he was in charge of a tanker laden with oil he should have been more careful. State prosecutor Wong Keen Onn told the criminal court a week ago that Sokolowski, whose ship was empty and bound for the Gulf, showed "blatant disregard" for other vessels and Chalkitis acted with "deplorable negligence". The Evoikos was bound for Singapore to discharge her cargo of 126,400 tonnes of marine fuel oil when the two vessels collided. Both masters pleaded guilty, surprising everyone.

The court had set aside five weeks for what had been expected to be a long and complicated trial. Dozens of vessels and hundreds of people were involved in cleaning up a spill which could have been much worse but for favourable winds and tides which took much of the oil out to sea. The Orapin Global, which should have been in the westbound lane through the Strait, moved into the eastbound lane, the court was told. Sokolowski's lawyer argued that he had had no choice but to move into the eastbound lane because of an oncoming tug. Lawyer Francis Xavier said Sokolowski did not deserve a jail term because he was moving all the time back to the correct lane, although he admitted that it could have been done faster. Edmond Pereira, acting for Chalkitis, called the Orapin Global a "rogue vessel" which was not on a steady course and so the Greek captain did not know what evasive action to take until it was too late. The sentencing of the two men is expected to open the way for civil cases put on the back burner to await indications from the court on who would shoulder the bigger responsibility. The owners of the Evoikos have already started legal proceedings to limit their liability to pollution claims, Pereira told the court during mitigation hearings last week. Legal sources estimate the owners want this fund capped at around S$12 million, which is less than the S$13 million spent on cleaning up operations.

1 July 1998 - Phoenix area, Arizona, USA

Keywords: Pollution, Toxic waste, Fertiliser industry

A toxic plume from a fertiliser plant which caused an evacuation of an agricultural area south-west of Phoenix has dissipated, but area residents may not be going home until morning. A 2,000-gallon tank of nitric acid began leaking into a containment area at about 1615, local time, today. The liquid emitted a vapour cloud from the plant over nearby farms and houses. The leaking chemical corroded the holding tanks to the point that two large tanks and some smaller ones collapsed. Residents in a four-mile radius around the plant have been evacuated to an elementary school where the Red Cross has established an overnight shelter. A nearby casino on the Gila River Reservation has been closed for the night. Crews from several Phoenix-area fire departments spread foam on the containment area and then washed the area with high-pressure platform hoses spewing water at 3,000 gallons a minute. Temperatures hovering over 100 degrees hampered clean-up efforts because the heat inside the hazardous materials suits worn by fire-fighters can reach up to 160 degrees. Hazardous materials experts say the vapours could be toxic on skin contact and is a severe respiratory irritant. The gas is also highly corrosive and flammable. One plant worker is being treated for inhaling the vapours. The residents of the rural area near Phoenix had a list of questions today, following a chemical tank leak and the release of a plume of toxic vapours near Phoenix late Wednesday (July 1). More than 6,000 gallons of nitric acid spilled from tanks behind a fertiliser plant in Laveen. A plume of brown vapours flowed from the plant into the air for four hours. What remained today was a combination of foam, water and nitric acid, which crews were loading into containers to be removed. Plant owner David Hudson will have to reimburse state and local crews for the clean-up, which could cost $70,000. More than 400 people were evacuated from the plant area Wednesday afternoon and could not return until late yesterday morning. Department of Environmental Quality personnel said the vapours probably did not harm plants and crops, but nitric acid is corrosive and they advised area residents to rinse down any metal which may have come in contact with the vapours. DEQ officials said Hudson did not have an emergency plan or a list of chemicals being stored at the facility.

2 July 1998 - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Keywords: Pollution, Oil, Marine transport

Following received from the managers of m tanker Theotokos (50,711 gt, built 1978), dated today: The Theotokos was unloading her cargo of crude oil from Kharg Island at Colombo when the discharging line came away, leading to a minor spillage of oil. The vessel is presently awaiting reconnection of same to continue operations.

3 July 1998 - A frantic clean-up of Colombo's beaches was under way yesterday after a leaking pipeline spewed crude oil into the sea in Sri Lanka's worst marine pollution disaster. A 7km slick was broken up at sea by monsoon winds but much of the 70 to 100 tonnes of oil washed up on beaches, sparking fears for an offshore coral reef which is a haunt of whales and dolphins. The spill occurred on Tuesday (June 30) when a section of a flexible pipeline burst while a tanker was unloading at a floating buoy. "The oil leaked out for about ten hours from the damaged pipeline", said Dhanapala Weerasokera, chairman of the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority. He said the country was not equipped to handle the catastrophe.

2 July 1998 - Honolulu, USA

Keywords: Marine transport, Pollution, Oil

An oil spill was reported in Honolulu Harbour at about 2030, HST, June 30. United States Coast Guard officials report that the spill was caused by a leak in an eight-inch pipeline, located under Pier 2. The pipeline is believed to be an old incinerator fuel line and was patched, temporarily, on 1 July. Officials do not know how much oil was spilled into the water between Piers 1 and 2. The state of Hawaii has taken responsibility for the clean up of the spill. Officials estimate that the clean up will be completed on 3 July.

9 July 1998 - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Light Iranian crude oil whipped into a mousse by a monsoon polluted at least 6km of beaches in Colombo, after a 29,400-gallon spill from Ceylon Petroleum Company single-point mooring 7km off Colombo on 30 June. However, the slick spared resort areas and had disappeared from the sea by 8 July, Marine Pollution Authority Chairman Dhanapala Weerasekera said.

14 July 1998 - Los Alamitos, USA

Keywords: Pollution, Road transport, Hazardous materials

About 375 workers have been evacuated from a plant in Los Alamitos where a 400-gallon mixture of nitric and hydrofluoric acids and water has spilled from a tanker truck. The Orange County Fire Authority says five workers were taken to Los Alamitos Hospital to be treated for exposure to the chemicals following the spill about 0845 today. The chemical mixture was being transferred from a 9,000-gallon tanker truck but the valves were apparently incompatible and caused the acids to leak.

23 July 1998 - Arlington, USA

Keywords: Marine transport, Oil, Pollution

Attorneys for the US government, the US state of California, and a private dry dock operator have agreed to a comprehensive $8 million settlement of the 28 October, 1996 m barge carrier Cape Mohican spill in San Francisco Bay. Federal agencies were both plaintiffs and defendants in the unusual case. The deal, filed in US District Court on 16 July and subject to a hearing, not only reimburses the state of California for its efforts at assessing and cleaning up the spill, but provides significant funds for enhancement of natural resources in and around the San Francisco Bay, says California Attorney General Dan Lungren. The US Maritime Administration (MARAD), a federal agency, owns the Cape Mohican. The settlement would require it and other MARAD vessels operating in California to carry state-approved oil spill contingency plans, says Dana Michaels, public affairs officer of California's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR). The spill occurred while the Cape Mohican was in a floating dry dock. When an employee of San Francisco Dry Dock opened a sea valve by mistake, 96,000 gallons (327 tonnes) of fuel oil poured into the dry dock, according to OSPR. Of that oil, 40,000 gallons (136 tonnes) spilled into the bay. Despite a containment and cleanup effort that involved more than 600 people, a winter storm drove the slick onto shores throughout the bay, and pushed it out into the Pacific Ocean. Oil fouled five National Park Service properties and a state park, according to OSPR. OSPR also reports the spill oiled 4,000 birds and killed more than 534. The Cape Mohican spill left two legacies. First it drew attention to the lack of spill contingency planning requirements for non tank vessels in California and second, following public criticism for failing to contain the Cape Mohican spill, the US Coast Guard and OSPR intervened quickly and decisively when m wood-chip carrier Kure spilled fuel oil into Humboldt Bay, 5 November, 1997. The agencies hired three oil spill response contractors in addition to one hired by Kure's agent. Response to the Kure spill cost more than $10 million, $2,400 per gallon and drew world attention.

23 July 1998 - Tokyo Bay, Japan

Keywords: Pollution, Oil, Marine transport

The Japanese Maritime Agency reports no impact on Tokyo Bay by bunker fuel spilled from mv Shinsei Maru No. 8, which sank after a collision on 8 July, according to Takeo Ikegami, general manager of the Japan Association for Marine Safety. JMSA estimates that Shinsei Maru No. 8 lost less than 294 gallons of fuel when she sank in 70 metres of water, but it kept the wreck under observation because she went down with 2,940 gallons of heavy fuel A and 4,400 gallons of blended A and C fuel, Ikegami reports. Divers had not sealed the vessel's fuel tanks as of 22 July, Ikegami reports. JMSA also monitored the spill response, in which two salvage vessels dispersed the small slick, he says.

23 July 1998 - Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Keywords: Pollution, Oil

Crushed by an overnight landslide, a section of the Transecuador Pipeline ruptured on 3 July, spilling about 504,000 gallons (1,714 tonnes) of crude oil into creeks and rivers at Esmeraldas, Ecuador, according to a statement provided by Petroecuador. Despite containment efforts by Petroecuador crews, the slick reached the Pacific Ocean and drifted about 100km northwest to foul shoreline in neighbouring Colombia, the state-owned oil company reports. The break occurred just 3km from the site of a 26 February catastrophic pipeline rupture that killed at least 11 people, Petroecuador says, "Rapid and timely intervention" by its safety technicians prevented a repeat of the February disaster. The 3 July spill did not kill or injure anyone, but did cause serious environmental contamination, the company says. Technicians prevented a much larger spill by shutting a section valve, installed in April, just 1km away from the eventual rupture. Flow through the Transecuador Pipeline resumed after 34 hours of labour, the company reports. The landslide broke the pipeline where it crossed under a brook in the Ines estuary, 15km from the mouth of the Esmeraldas River in north-western Ecuador, according to Petroecuador. Company technicians first deployed absorbent barriers and mobilised skimmers, Petroecuador says. "On the shores of the rivers, they used dispersants and absorbent materials so as to protect the affected vegetation", according to the statement. Crews constructed various oil containment dikes to contain the oil residues for transfer to treatment tanks. In the sea, they proceeded to collect the slick to avoid its dispersal, Petroecuador says. Eventually, the slick arrived at Colombian territory, at which point Ecopetrol, Colombia's state-owned oil company, began its own cleanup while Petroecuador covered the expenses, Petroecuador reports. Neighborhoods affected by the spill were La Propicia 1, La Propicia 2, Las Palmas, and other areas at the mouth of the Esmeraldas River, Petroecuador says.

27 July 1998 - Santos Canal, Brazil

Keywords: Pollution, Oil, Marine transport

M container vessel Elisabeth Rickmers (16,801 gt, built 1995) deviated her route while on course to Cosipa Terminal, through Santos Canal, and collided with m bulk carrier Smyrni (9,717 gt, built 1977), berthed alongside Pier No. 26, Santos, at 0550, local time, yesterday. Smyrni was discharging 16,000 tonnes of wheat. The collision destroyed the No. 4 upper tank of oil of the Smyrni with around 100 tonnes stored. Around two tonnes spilled into the sea, polluting the canal and several beaches. Bow of Elisabeth Rickmers collided with starboard shell plating of Smyrni in the way of engine-room, causing a hole around six square metres. Due to the accident electric energy was interrupted and several crew members' rooms were damaged too on board Smyrni. The port side hull of Smyrni was compressed and dragged against the pier, the mooring ropes broke and two shore cranes were damaged. Engine-room of Smyrni was flooded by seawater and oil.

28 July 1998 - For the time being m container vessel Elisabeth Rickmers is impeded from leaving Santos through lawsuit and was fined by the city US$24,856. Forty tonnes of oil spilled so far. M bulk carrier Smyrni might be declared a total loss.

27 July 1998 - Nigeria

Keywords: Pollution, Oil

Royal/Dutch Shell's Nigerian oil producing unit said it had shut a 12-inch delivery pipeline after it noticed a spill of 1,850 barrels of crude oil.

A local press report, dated today, states: Shell Producing Development Company has announced an oil spill in one of its delivery lines in the southern swamp operational area, but has yet to determine its cause. A statement by the company last night stated: "An oil spill has been reported on our 12-inch Benisede-Isampou delivery line in our southern swamp operational area. The spill was noticed at around 0845, 24 July. The delivery line has been closed to stop further outlet of crude into the environment. An initial joint investigation team noted that the spill impacted mainly land area. Impact on rivers and creeks is not apparent". Containment and clean-up equipment have been mobilised. Total volume of oil spilled is estimated at 1,850 barrels. The firm said though the cause of the spill has not been established, a follow-up joint investigation was planned to ascertain the cause.

30 July 1998 - Cape Town, South Africa

Keywords: Pollution, Oil

Insufficient protection against a pressure surge "clearly contributed" to a 24 May fuel oil spill from the Landing Wall wharf of Joint Bunkering Services (JBS) in Cape Town, according to the company. JBS is taking steps to prevent a recurrence, according to company official Henk Smit, and will not resume bunkering operations from the Landing Wall before September. Preliminary investigation suggests a pressure surge, possibly from inappropriate closing of a valve, created a shock wave that knocked 400 metres of pipeline from its supports, Smit says, oil leaked from blown gaskets in all of the flange couplings in the line. Engineers also are investigating whether the pipeline supports were suitable, he adds. Engineers are reviewing the integrity of other JBS operations in light of the spill, and the company already has increased "the frequency and rigor of regular inspections", Smit says. JBS will do more work, based on final recommendations by investigators, he says.

12 August 1998 - near Pisco, Peru

Keywords: Pollution, Oil

An oil slick on Peru's southern coast threatened a seal reserve and bird sanctuary today after a spill from a pipe that juts into the sea intended to load vessels with crude, authorities said. Winds were dragging the 600 foot-long slick out to sea some nine miles from the Paracas nature reserve, one of Peru's top tourist attractions near the southern town of Pisco. "We do not know if it can reach the Paracas reserve because the spill is moving toward open sea because of the current wind direction", said Luis Sandoval, spokesman for the Pisco local government. But he noted that the wind direction could change. The Paracas nature reserve attracts thousands of tourists each year for its Pacific coastline and islands home to thousands of seals and exotic sea birds. The spill came from the main terminal operator in the area, an oil division of Peru's largest construction firm, Granay Montero, which has sent workers to the area to direct a cleanup, a company spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said the spill was of residual oil, a by-product of crude.

13 August 1998 - Kingston, Jamaica

Keywords: Marine transport, Pollution

A local press report states: Lasocean Agencies Ltd has withdrawn as agents for the crippled m bulk carrier Star- 11, detained in Jamaica since April after she allegedly dumped cargo into Kingston harbour causing a major fish kill. Shipping sources say that Lascocean recently told the vessel's owners, Soriano Shipping, Greece, that it could no longer continue to represent the vessel unless debts were cleared for its handling services. The action by Lascocean has added to the litany of woes faced by the vessel since she ran aground off Morant Point in April. The vessel was arrested by the Jamaican authorities for having dumped large amounts of substance, apparently including sugar, into the harbour after the Morant Point ordeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions as well as the Attorney General's Department are planning how to proceed against the owners. Additionally, the owners have been sued in the Jamaican courts by a firm called Scandinavian Marine Claims Office on behalf of the salvage company that rescued the vessel from the Morant Point reefs. Scandinavian Marine is claiming just under US$51 million for the job. There were suggestions yesterday that claimants may consider applying to the Jamaican court for permission to auction the vessel to collect the debt. At the time of the grounding, which damaged the hold of the vessel, she was on her way from Cuba for Russia with 22,000 tonnes of brown sugar. About 18,000 tonnes of sugar is believed to be still on board. Since the incident, the bulk of the predominantly Greek crew, including the master, have left the vessel. Star- 11 has been anchored in Kingston harbour, near to Port Royal, but has occasionally come alongside for fuel for her generators and water.

14 August 1998 - Gothenburg area, Sweden

Keywords: Pollution, Marine transport, Oil

A major oil spillage of heavy fuel oil was noted pm today in the area of Cityvarvet shipyard, and oil booms were placed around in order to minimise other areas involved. Tank-trucks and equipment from shore are sucking up the fuel oil and as at 1900 this evening the rescue leader was not certain of the quantities but estimated around 20 cbm or more. The oil is located near Cityvarvet where a Gorthon Line vessel, ro-ro mv Mania Gorthon (13,533 gt, built 1984), is berthed waiting to dock Monday morning, but it is not sure if the oil comes from the vessel or another oil terminal at the port, samples have been taken for identification and test are to be carried out. Work will continue during the night, but so far the weather situation is fair with almost no wind in the area.

17 August 1998 - Oil spillage Gothenburg port area: Now confirmed that the oil came from ro-ro mv Maria Corthou, tied up at Cityvarvet shipyard for docking and starting repair work today. This was confirmed after the samples taken and tests carried out during the weekend (15-16 August), that the spillage came from the vessel, but considered as an accident. After investigation from the police, oil found in ballast tank, normally carrying only salt-water. The cleanup procedures have been going on the entire weekend and the amount of oil estimated to be around 15 cbm. State inspectors and police will investigate cause of incident on board.

16 August 1998 - Havana, Cuba

Keywords: Pollution, Oil

A new Cuban environmental agency faced a baptism by fire a day after it was set up when 100 tons of oil spilled into Havana Bay from an oil refinery, a local paper reported. The State Group for the Cleaning Up, Conservation and Development of Havana Bay, created only 24 hours before the spill, declared an environmental emergency and implemented contingency plans to clean up the slick and prevent it spreading, today's Havana Tribuna said. The oil spilled from the Nico Lopez refinery, which has been responsible for similar spills in past years. According to the Tribuna, the refinery claimed that 21 tons of crude oil spilled into the bay, but during the clean-up the State Group filtered out more than 100 tons of oil. The rapid action of the new agency prevented oil from passing out of the mouth of the bay and contaminating nearby beaches. The spill, which occurred on July 29 and 30 but was only reported today, was caused by refinery workers failing to close oil tank valves after flushing out water. Tribuna said the workers left the valves open for a full day, allowing oil to pump into the bay. Three workers were fined a total of 1,400 pesos, almost two months pay for each of them.

19 August 1998 - Ibaa Emomua, Nigeria

Royal Dutch/Shell Group today said 100,000 barrels per day of crude oil production had been shut in after a spill from a pipeline in south east Nigeria. A statement from Shell in Lagos said the volume of the spill at Ibaa Emohua was about 700 barrels and a team had been sent to the site to clean up and discover the cause of the incident. Containment of the spill began soon after the incident, the statement said. It did not say when the spill occurred, nor did it say whether exports from the Bonny Terminal could be affected by the shut-in.