Castillo de Bellver, 1983
Location: Off Saldanha Bay, South Africa
Gallons: 78.5 million
How It Happened:
Another torcher, the Castillo de Bellver caught fire about 70 miles northwest of Capetown, South Africa, on August 6, 1983. The blazing tanker was abandoned and drifted offshore until it eventually broke in half. The stern capsized and sank into the deep ocean, with some 110,000 ton of oil remaining in its tanks. The bow section was towed away and sunk in a controlled explosion.
The vessel was carrying nearly 79 million gallons of crude at the time of the accident.
The Cleanup:
Cleanup was minimal. There was some dispersant spraying, but by and large the environmental consequences were small. About 1500 gannets that happened to be gathered on a nearby island, gearing up for their breeding season, were oiled, but the impact on local fish stocks was minimal.
Gallons: 78.5 million
How It Happened:
Another torcher, the Castillo de Bellver caught fire about 70 miles northwest of Capetown, South Africa, on August 6, 1983. The blazing tanker was abandoned and drifted offshore until it eventually broke in half. The stern capsized and sank into the deep ocean, with some 110,000 ton of oil remaining in its tanks. The bow section was towed away and sunk in a controlled explosion.
The vessel was carrying nearly 79 million gallons of crude at the time of the accident.
The Cleanup:
Cleanup was minimal. There was some dispersant spraying, but by and large the environmental consequences were small. About 1500 gannets that happened to be gathered on a nearby island, gearing up for their breeding season, were oiled, but the impact on local fish stocks was minimal.
I have been doing a bit of research on the Castillo de Bellver. I cannot find any commentary on the remaining 110,000 of crude that still stuck in the sunken stern. Any idea of how this is being monitored? Also, any idea of the liability for the remaining oil from the ship owners or their insurers?
ReplyDeleteChris Roed