Oil Spills: A History of Major Tragedies

Prestige Oil Spill

An oil spill refers to the “discharge into the sea of a significant quantity of crude oil or heavy petroleum products, forming a slick driven by winds towards the coasts.” This term was coined by a journalist during the sinking of the Torrey Canyon ship off the Isles of Scilly (UK) in 1967. This article focuses primarily on oil spills resulting from unintentional discharges from ships.

It’s important to note that shipwrecks are not the only events responsible for oil spills. For example, the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in April 2010 led to the release of over 600,000 tons of fuel into the Gulf of Mexico.

The ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation), a professional association specializing in combating pollution from ships, has been documenting oil spills related to accidental discharges (excluding those linked to acts of war) since the late 1960s.

In its database, the organization classifies oil spills by the volume of hydrocarbons released into the sea (less than 7 tons, 7 to 700 tons, and over 700 tons).

The ITOPF highlights that the number and scale of oil spills have decreased in recent decades (while maritime transport has continued to grow). Eighteen “large-scale” oil spills (over 700 tons) from ships were recorded between 2010 and 2019, and five since 2020, compared to 245 between 1970 and 1979.

Since 1967, four oil spills linked to shipwrecks have resulted in the release of over 200,000 tons of hydrocarbons into the sea, according to the ITOPF (in order of magnitude):

  • In July 1979, the ships Atlantic Empress and Aegan Captain collided off Trinidad and Tobago, spilling a total of nearly 287,000 tons of oil into the sea.
  • In May 1991, the Liberian vessel Abt Summer exploded off the coast of Angola and burned for three days with a cargo of 260,000 tons of fuel oil on board.
  • In August 1983, the Spanish oil tanker Castillo de Bellver burned off the Cape in South Africa and sank with 252,000 tons of oil on board.
  • In March 1978, the oil tanker Amoco Cadiz sank off the coast of Brittany, France, spilling nearly 225,000 tons of oil into the sea.

The largest oil spill in history occurred in Trinidad and Tobago.

In France, the sinking of the Erika in December 1999 off the coast of Brittany remains infamous, with the spill of nearly 20,000 tons of heavy fuel oil affecting nearly 400 km of coastline.

Source : Connaissance des Energies

Impact of Oil Spills on Fauna and Flora

Hydrocarbons released into the water disrupt seabirds’ ability to fly and protect themselves from the cold, often leading to death by hypothermia or drowning.

Marine mammals, such as seals and dolphins, inhale or ingest toxic oil, which can cause internal injuries, infections, and premature death.

Fish and invertebrates, which form the base of the marine food chain, also absorb contaminants, resulting in cumulative toxic effects across trophic levels.

Coastal and marine flora also suffer significant impacts. Oil spills suffocate aquatic plants and algae by covering their surfaces, preventing photosynthesis. Mangroves, essential for coastal stabilization and erosion protection, are particularly vulnerable as their aerial roots absorb hydrocarbons, leading to plant mortality. Seagrasses, which serve as nurseries for many species of fish and invertebrates, are destroyed, compromising biodiversity and the resilience of marine ecosystems.

Oil spills even disrupt ecosystems and biodiversity in the long term, as hydrocarbons persist in the environment for years, contaminating sediments and habitats. This chronic contamination affects the reproduction and survival of species, reducing populations and sometimes leading to the local extinction of certain species. The degradation of marine and coastal habitats also has economic repercussions for human communities, particularly in the fishing and tourism sectors, exacerbating socio-economic challenges for affected regions.

Sea Empress

In February 1996, the oil tanker Sea Empress ran aground near Milford Haven, Wales, spilling approximately 72,000 tons of crude oil into the surrounding waters. The oil spill severely impacted marine and coastal ecosystems, causing the death of thousands of seabirds and contaminating beaches and local fishing areas. Cleanup operations lasted several months, and the incident led to revisions of maritime safety protocols and measures to prevent oil spills.

Erika

The oil tanker Erika sank off the coast of Brittany, France, in December 1999, releasing approximately 20,000 tons of heavy fuel oil into the Atlantic Ocean. This oil spill contaminated over 400 kilometers of French coastline, causing considerable environmental damage and killing thousands of seabirds. The event had significant repercussions on the local fishing and tourism industries and led to substantial changes in European legislation on maritime safety and environmental responsibility.

Prestige

In November 2002, the oil tanker Prestige sank off the coast of Galicia, Spain, after being severely damaged during a storm. The ship released approximately 63,000 tons of heavy fuel oil into the ocean, causing one of Europe’s worst environmental disasters. The resulting oil slicks polluted the Spanish, Portuguese, and French coasts, devastating marine life and local fisheries.

The Prestige incident highlighted the shortcomings of maritime regulations and led to the strengthening of safety standards for ships carrying hazardous substances.

Hebei Spirit

In December 2007, the oil tanker Hebei Spirit was struck by a floating crane off the west coast of South Korea, causing a spill of approximately 10,800 tons of crude oil into the Yellow Sea. The oil spill severely polluted beaches and marine ecosystems in the region, with adverse effects on the fishing industry and local tourism.

Cleanup efforts lasted several years, and the incident led to revisions of safety protocols and measures to prevent maritime collisions in South Korea.

BP Deepwater Horizon

Unprecedented coastal pollution was caused by the explosion of the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig in April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the southeastern United States, which resulted in 11 deaths. It took 87 days to plug the well located under 1,500 meters of water. According to Ms. Lynch, the equivalent of over 3 million barrels of oil escaped, contaminating more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline.

Sanchi

The Iranian oil tanker Sanchi collided with a cargo ship off the coast of Shanghai in January 2018, resulting in a major fire and the sinking of the vessel. The Sanchi was carrying approximately 136,000 tons of ultra-light condensate, an extremely flammable form of petroleum. The oil spill released a large quantity of this oil into the East China Sea, causing significant damage to marine life and posing serious challenges to cleanup operations due to the volatile nature of the condensate. This incident highlighted the risks associated with transporting highly flammable substances and prompted a review of international maritime safety standards.

Source: Connaissance des Energies

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