Chemical incidents NORTH Chemical Pollution at Sea · hippocmape.com - 235024 Cason RIA DE AROUSA,...

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hippocmape.com - 235024 Cason RIA DE AROUSA, SPAIN, 1987 On December 5th, 1987, the cargo ship Cason was passing the coast of Galicia (Spain) as it travelled from Antwerp to Shanghai, when a fire broke out onboard. It was transporting over a thousand tonnes of toxic, corrosive and flam- mable chemicals as well as marine pollutants, including sodium, which ignited upon contact with seawater. 23 crew members were killed. The fire became out of control; the vessel ran aground and conti- nued to blaze. Adverse weather conditions restricted salvage operations. Drums of sodium were projected into the water and went on fire. The lack of information on the exact nature and quantity of hazardous substances transported made response difficult. Incorrect information spread panic and confusion within the nearby po- pulation and 15,000 people were evacuated. Finally, part of the cargo was unloaded and a pollution monitoring program was implemented. NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST Mont-Blanc HALIFAX, CANADA, 1917 As the cargo ship Mont-Blanc entered the port of Halifax (Canada) on December 6th, 1917, carrying a cargo of muni- tions (2,300 t of picric acid, 10 t of gun cotton, 200 t of TNT and 35 t of benzol), it collided with a cargo ship in ballast. A fire broke out. Quarter of an hour later, as the Mont Blanc drifted towards the pier, it exploded. 1,500 people were killed instantly, including hundreds of onlookers. 9,000 others were injured. The explosion devas- tated 2 km 2 of land. Debris was projected up to 4 km away. Fires broke out in the ruins. The neighbourhood of Rich- mond, at the north end of the port, was entirely destroyed. This was the biggest ever manmade explosion before the first nuclear bombs. 1974 GAS CARRIER YUYO MARU FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES 1987 CARGO SHIP CASON FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES 2004 CHEMICAL TANKER ENA 2 CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES 2008 FERRY PRINCESS OF THE STARS FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES 2011 CONTAINER SHIP RENA FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES 2007 CONTAINER SHIP MSC NAPOLI FLAMMABLE, TOXIC, CORROSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES Ena 2 HAMBURG, GERMANY, 2004 On June 28th, 2004, during stowage operations in the port of Hamburg (Germany), the chemical tanker Ena 2, carrying 960 t of sulphuric acid, collided with a container ship. The incident did not cause any damage to its internal structure but caused a leak of the cargo into the ventilation system. The ship sank at its moorings 35 minutes later. Its cargo began to spill out and dissolve in the port’s waters. Eleven people were affected by the toxic and corrosive vapours released and had to be taken to hospital. Hydrogen formed in the tanks of the wreck, generating a risk of explo- sion. The vessel was refloated on July 5th. Over half of the cargo of acid dissolved in the River Elbe and more than a thousand fish were killed. Nevertheless, the environmental impact was short-lived. 1917 CARGO SHIP MONT-BLANC EXPLOSIVE AND FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES © Maritime museum of the Atlantic © Cedre © Courtesy of MCA Rena BAY OF PLENTY, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 2011 In the early hours of the morning on October 5th, 2011, the container ship Rena grounded on a reef renowned for its flo- ra and fauna, off the coast of Tauranga (New Zealand), with 1,368 containers onboard, including 32 containing HNS. A risk of pollution was generated both by the bunker fuel and the cargo within the containers. The following day, the first oil slicks were observed around the ship. One of the vessel’s tanks was leaking. Very rapidly, operations began to pump out the oil and recover containers fallen overboard. On land, clean-up operations involving thousands of volunteers were carried out. The containers onboard were equipped with lo- cater beacons, known as pingers, so that they could be easily detected if they were to fall overboard. Operations to remove the containers remaining onboard began in mid-Novem- ber 2011 and lasted several months. The Rena, having become very fragile, broke in two in early January 2012. © MNZ Princess of the Stars SIBUYAN, PHILIPPINES, 2008 The passenger ferry Princess of the Stars was en route from Manila to the island of Cebu (Philippines) when it was caught in a typhoon, capsized and sank off the coast of Sibuyan Island. 700 people lost their lives, mostly trapped inside the wreck, of which only the tip of the bow emerged above the wa- ter surface. Divers were sent to recover the bodies. Only then was it announced that the vessel was transporting two containers of highly toxic pesticides. Operations were suspended and a fishing ban was issued in neighbouring waters. Samples were taken to measure the level of conta- mination and a team of European experts were sent on site. No significant pollution was detected and activities were able to be resumed. © Cedre Yuyo Maru N°10 TOKYO BAY, JAPAN, 1974 On November 9th, 1974, in Tokyo Bay (Ja- pan), the gas carrier Yuyo Maru N° 10, loa- ded with a cargo of 20,600 t of naphtha, 200 t of butane and 440 t of propane, col- lided with a cargo ship. A crack opened up in the hull, puncturing a ballast tank contai- ning naphtha. The chemical ignited. The fire spread, surrounding the ship. 32 crew members were killed. Explosions shook the blazing wreck. The fire burned for several days, before it was brought under control. The vessel was then towed out to sea and was deliberately sunk. We note that the integrity of the tanks containing lique- fied gases was not compromised by the fire and explosions. MSC Napoli WESTERN ENGLISH CHANNEL, 2007 During a storm in the English Channel on Ja- nuary 18th, 2007, the container ship MSC Na- poli suffered a crack in the hull and the vessel lost power. Its cargo included around 1,700 t of hazardous substances: explosives, 177 t of flam- mable gases, 61 t of oxidizers, 143 t of toxic subs- tances and over 200 t of corrosive substances. The crew were airlifted to safety and the vessel was towed towards the English coast. During towing, it sank further and towing it to a port was no longer an option. The ship was finally beached in Lyme Bay, on the south coast of England. A group of experts was formed and examined the dangers for responders (explosive or flammable substances and toxic gases) and for the marine environment (aquatic pollutants, toxic substances for flora and fauna). Many containers fell overboard and began to wash up, first on the shores of Brittany then in England. The containers remaining onboard were unloaded and sorted, and their contents were destroyed or transported to their intended recipients. The wreck was cut up and removed. Chemical incidents ILLUSTRATING EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARGOES Understanding Chemical Pollution at Sea www.chemical-pollution.com 24_major-incidents.indd 1 21/02/2012 12:26:12

Transcript of Chemical incidents NORTH Chemical Pollution at Sea · hippocmape.com - 235024 Cason RIA DE AROUSA,...

Page 1: Chemical incidents NORTH Chemical Pollution at Sea · hippocmape.com - 235024 Cason RIA DE AROUSA, SPAIN, 1987 On December 5th, 1987, the cargo ship Cason was passing the coast of

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CasonRIA DE AROUSA, SPAIN, 1987

On December 5th, 1987, the cargo ship Cason was passing the coast of Galicia (Spain) as it travelled from Antwerp to Shanghai, when a fire broke out onboard. It was transporting over a thousand tonnes of toxic, corrosive and flam-mable chemicals as well as marine pollutants, including sodium, which ignited upon contact with seawater.

23 crew members were killed. The fire became out of control; the vessel ran aground and conti-

nued to blaze. Adverse weather conditions restricted salvage operations. Drums of sodium were projected into the water and went on fire. The lack of information on the exact nature and quantity of hazardous substances transported made response difficult. Incorrect information spread panic and confusion within the nearby po-pulation and 15,000 people were evacuated. Finally, part of the cargo was unloaded and a pollution monitoring program was implemented.

NORTH

SOUTH

EASTWEST

Mont-BlancHALIFAX, CANADA, 1917

As the cargo ship Mont-Blanc entered the port of Halifax (Canada) on December 6th, 1917, carrying a cargo of muni-tions (2,300 t of picric acid, 10 t of gun cotton, 200 t of TNT and 35 t of benzol), it collided with a cargo ship in ballast. A fire broke out. Quarter of an hour later, as the Mont Blanc drifted towards the pier, it exploded.

1,500 people were killed instantly, including hundreds of onlookers. 9,000 others were injured. The explosion devas-tated 2 km2 of land. Debris was projected up to 4 km away. Fires broke out in the ruins. The neighbourhood of Rich-mond, at the north end of the port, was entirely destroyed. This was the biggest ever manmade explosion before the first nuclear bombs.

1974 GAS CARRIER YUYO MARUFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

1987 CARGO SHIP CASONFLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES

2004 CHEMICAL TANKER ENA 2CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES

2008 FERRY PRINCESS OF THE STARSFLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES

2011CONTAINER SHIP RENAFLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES

2007

CONTAINER SHIP MSC NAPOLIFLAMMABLE, TOXIC, CORROSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES

Ena 2HAMBURG, GERMANY, 2004

On June 28th, 2004, during stowage operations in the port of Hamburg (Germany), the chemical tanker Ena 2, carrying 960 t of sulphuric acid, collided with a container ship. The incident did not cause any damage to its internal structure but caused a leak of the cargo into the ventilation system. The ship sank at its moorings 35 minutes later. Its cargo began to spill out and dissolve in the port’s waters.

Eleven people were affected by the toxic and corrosive vapours released and had to be taken to hospital. Hydrogen formed in the tanks of the wreck, generating a risk of explo-sion. The vessel was refloated on July 5th. Over half of the cargo of acid dissolved in the River Elbe and more than a thousand fish were killed. Nevertheless, the environmental impact was short-lived.

1917CARGO SHIP MONT-BLANCEXPLOSIVE ANDFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

© Maritime museum of the Atlantic

© Cedre

© Courtesy of MCA

RenaBAY OF PLENTY, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 2011

In the early hours of the morning on October 5th, 2011, the container ship Rena grounded on a reef renowned for its flo-ra and fauna, off the coast of Tauranga (New Zealand), with 1,368 containers onboard, including 32 containing HNS.

A risk of pollution was generated both by the bunker fuel and the cargo within the containers. The following day, the first oil slicks were observed around the ship. One of the vessel’s tanks was leaking. Very rapidly, operations began to pump out the oil and recover containers fallen overboard. On land, clean-up operations involving thousands of volunteers were carried out. The containers onboard were equipped with lo-cater beacons, known as pingers, so that they could be easily detected if they were to fall overboard. Operations to remove the containers remaining onboard began in mid-Novem-ber 2011 and lasted several months.

The Rena, having become very fragile, broke in two in early January 2012.

© MNZ

Princess of the StarsSIBUYAN, PHILIPPINES, 2008

The passenger ferry Princess of the Stars was en route from Manila to the island of Cebu (Philippines) when it was caught in a typhoon, capsized and sank off the coast of Sibuyan Island.

700 people lost their lives, mostly trapped inside the wreck, of which only the tip of the bow emerged above the wa-ter surface. Divers were sent to recover the bodies. Only then was it announced that the vessel was transporting two containers of highly toxic pesticides. Operations were suspended and a fishing ban was issued in neighbouring waters. Samples were taken to measure the level of conta-mination and a team of European experts were sent on site. No significant pollution was detected and activities were able to be resumed.

© Cedre

Yuyo Maru N°10TOKYO BAY, JAPAN, 1974

On November 9th, 1974, in Tokyo Bay (Ja-pan), the gas carrier Yuyo Maru N° 10, loa-ded with a cargo of 20,600 t of naphtha, 200 t of butane and 440 t of propane, col-lided with a cargo ship. A crack opened up in the hull, puncturing a ballast tank contai-ning naphtha. The chemical ignited. The fire spread, surrounding the ship.

32 crew members were killed. Explosions shook the blazing wreck. The fire burned for several days, before it was brought under control. The vessel was then towed out to sea and was deliberately sunk. We note that the integrity of the tanks containing lique-fied gases was not compromised by the fire and explosions.

MSC NapoliWESTERN ENGLISH CHANNEL, 2007

During a storm in the English Channel on Ja-nuary 18th, 2007, the container ship MSC Na-poli suffered a crack in the hull and the vessel lost power. Its cargo included around 1,700 t of hazardous substances: explosives, 177 t of flam-mable gases, 61 t of oxidizers, 143 t of toxic subs-tances and over 200 t of corrosive substances. The crew were airlifted to safety and the vessel was towed towards the English coast.

During towing, it sank further and towing it to a port was no longer an option. The ship was finally beached in Lyme Bay, on the south coast of England. A group of experts was formed and examined the dangers for responders (explosive or flammable substances and toxic gases) and for the marine environment (aquatic pollutants, toxic substances for flora and fauna).

Many containers fell overboard and began to wash up, first on the shores of Brittany then in England. The containers remaining onboard were unloaded and sorted, and their contents were destroyed or transported to their intended recipients. The wreck was cut up and removed.

Chemical incidentsILLUSTRATING EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENTTYPES OF CARGOES

Understanding

Chemical Pollution at Seawww.chemical-pollution.com

24_major-incidents.indd 1 21/02/2012 12:26:12