BROWSE BY NAME: ALL ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Exxon Valdez Scrapped 23 Years Later…

March 20, 2012 | Pollution
2007 photo before converted to an ore carrier

The infamous oil tanker Exxon Valdez has been sold for demolition.   The tanker had changed hands many times since it had run aground in Prince William Sound in 1989.  The vessel was converted from an oil tanker to an ore carrier in 2007 and was sailing as the  Dong Fang Ocean until 2012.  In November 2010, the Dong Fang Ocean collided with the Aali in the South China Sea severely damaging both vessels.  In March 2012, the vessel was sold for scrap and renamed to Oriental Nicety. It made its last voyage under her own power to Singapore where it will be dismantled.

The Exxon Valdez ran up on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989.  The vessel’s tanks were ruptured allowing upwards to over 11 million gallons of oil into the water.   The cause of the sinking was focused on the captain who was below deck sleeping off an alcohol “bender”, but more problems were revealed later in the investigation.  The tanker’s radar was not functional for over a year before the incident.  There was a lack of equipment and personnel to cope with an oil spill.   As the investigation revealed, there was a widespread failure in the industry requiring new laws and reforms.  The Valdez was the worse oil spill in United States waters until the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Emstide

March 15, 2012 | Allision

The 99 meter long, 5200 dwt freighter Emstide allided with a quay in the Kiel Canal at Rendsburg, Germany.  The Emstide had suffered a steering failure with the hydraulic system on the rudder and struck the quay.    The freighter suffered damage resulting in a small hole on the aft section of the hull.   The vessel was detained until the crew can make repairs.  No reports of injuries or pollution being released.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Easy Rider Lost

March 15, 2012 | Capsize, Sank

The fishing vessel Easy Rider capsized and sank in the Foveaux Strait near Stewart Island, New Zealand.  The vessel with three crew and six passengers was proceeding through the strait in bad weather with heavy rain and four meter swells when it was struck by a rogue wave and capsized.   The three men on deck were thrown into the water while the rest were trapped inside the wheelhouse.   One man was able to hold onto the vessel and climb onto the overturn hull.  For several hours he held on before the Easy Rider sank.  Thrown back into the water, he was able to grab a hold of a floating petrol can.  When the Easy Rider failed to arrive on Stewart Island at the expected time, the alarm was sent out and rescue boats and helicopters were dispatched to the scene.  The sole survivor was found when got the attention of a coast guard vessel some 16 hours since grabbing a hold of the petrol can.   He was taken to hospital later and was treated for hypothermia.  Reports state the vessel was found resting at 40 meters.   Rescuers also recovered four bodies during the search.

Enhanced by Zemanta
1 … 43 44 45 46 47 … 57