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US: Oil spill calamity four times “Exxon Valdez” disaster waiting to happen

Houthis’ continued attacks threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times the size of the “Exxon Valdez” disaster, says US Department of State.

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US: Oil spill calamity four times “Exxon Valdez” disaster waiting to happen

The US Department of State on Thursday (24 August) said it was gravely concerned by the Houthis’ attacks against the oil tanker MV Sounion, a vessel carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil. 

“The Houthis’ continued attacks threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster,” it said in a statement. 

“While the crew has been evacuated, the Houthis appear determined to sink the ship and its cargo into the sea.”

“We call on the Houthis to cease these actions immediately and urge other nations to step forward to help avert this environmental disaster.”

The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a man made disaster that occurred when oil tanker Exxon Valdez, owned by the Exxon Shipping Company, spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound on 24 March, 1989.

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It was considered the worst oil spill in US history until the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

According to the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, an EU military operation in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf, the Sounion came under an attack in the South Red Sea area and lost its engine power on 21 August. 

Following a request from the master, the operation dispatched a ship in order to rescue the crew.

While approaching the area, a EUNAVFOR ASPIDES ship destroyed an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) that posed an imminent threat to the ship and the crew. All on board the Sounion were subsequently rescued and are being transported to Djibouti, the nearest safe port of call.

However, it reported that the vessel was on fire on 23 August posing a significant environmental threat due to the large volume of crude oil on board, which could lead to a severe ecological disaster with potentially devastating effects on the region’s biodiversity.

In its latest updated on 26 August, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES said the ship was still on fire and there were fires on at least five locations observed on the main deck of the vessel. 

“It is estimated that these are located around the hatches of the vessel’s oil tanks. Additionally, part of the superstructure is on fire, too,” it said.

“So far there are no obvious signs of an oil spill.”

 

Photo credit: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
Published: 28 August, 2024

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Solomon Islands government joins landowners in compensation claim over 2019 oil spill disaster

Considered the biggest environmental disaster in Solomon Islands’ history, grounding of “MV Solomon Trader” and subsequent oil spill caused environmental devastation at Rennell Island, says government.

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Solomon Islands government joins landowners in compensation claim over 2019 oil spill disaster

The Solomon Islands government last month stated its support to the landowners of Kangava Bay, East Rennell by joining a compensation claim against international companies responsible for a monumental oil spill in February 2019.

Considered the biggest environmental disaster in Solomon Islands’ history, the grounding of Hong-Kong flagged bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader and the subsequent oil spill caused environmental devastation at Rennell Island. 

The vessel reportedly ran aground on 4 February and spilled more than 300 metric tonnes (mt) of heavy fuel oil into the ocean. 

“A first-of-its-kind claim in both collaboration and magnitude, the government and landowners have joined as co-claimants to pursue a group of international companies for environmental and other damages,” the government said in a statement. 

The compensation claim was filed in the High Court in Honiara on 31 January by the landowners of the Kangava Bay Community East Rennell Island and the Attorney General on behalf of the Solomon Islands government.

Acting jointly with the landowners in the matter, the Attorney-General Mr John Muria Jnr will lead the Solomon Islands government in the claim.

“We wish to ensure that companies act within local and international maritime and environmental laws and those that don’t need to be held to account,” said Attorney-General John Muria Jnr.

Solomon Islands Minister of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology Trevor Mahaga, points out that “while East Rennell is a remote area, its environmental importance cannot be overstated and significant damage was done to this important part of our country and despite the generous clean-up assistance from Australia and New Zealand at the time, the residents continue to be impacted.”

“Neither the Kangava Community nor the Solomon Islands Government have received any assistance or compensation from the parties that are allegedly responsible,” the government added. 

Related: Bunker spill at Solomon Islands continue, more help sent
Related: Bunker spill: “Solomon Trader” beached at Solomon Islands
Related: “Solomon Trader” disaster shows nowhere safe from HFO spills

 

Photo credit: Solomon Islands government
Published: 14 February, 2025

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Fuel leak from Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker “JAG” reported in Türkiye

Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety said the fuel leakage was caused by tanker “JAG”, leading to pollution at Ahırkapı Anchorage Area and sea surface was cleaned by its vessels following that.

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Fuel leak from Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker “JAG” reported in Türkiye

The Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety (KEGM) on Tuesday (11 February) reported a fuel leakage at Ahırkapı Anchorage Area.

KEGM said the fuel leakage was caused by Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker JAG, leading to pollution in the area. It did not specify how much fuel leaked from the vessel. 

Several media outlets have reported that the incident occurred during a bunkering operation at the anchorage involving JAG and oil products tanker Gokdeniz

In response to the incident, KEGM deployed two vessels, KEGM-3 and KEGM-4, its environmental barge and a tugboat accompanied by its Rescue Specialist. 

“The sea surface was cleaned after the work carried out by our teams,” it said.

 

Photo credit: Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety
Published: 13 February, 2025

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Incident

Singapore: Bunker spill leads to checks on all fuel pipes at other Police Coast Guard bases

Police said fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February.

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RESIZED bunker tanker singapore

The recent oil leak incident at Police Coast Guard (PCG) Brani Regional Base has prompted checks on all fuel pipes at PCG’s three other bases for leaks, according to The Straits Times on Monday (10 February). 

Responding to queries from the local news provider, the police said all fuel pipes at Brani Regional Base were inspected on 6 February while fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February. 

The police also said that a preliminary assessment on the cause of the leak might be due to micro cracks in a damaged fuel pipe as a result of repeated twisting of the pipe due to the movement of the pontoons caused by tidal changes.

On 6 February, Singapore authorities confirmed that a diesel oil leak was discovered at the Brani Regional Base on 5 February, at around 11.40am (Singapore Time). 

According to a joint statement by Singapore Police Force, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and National Environment Agency (NEA), about 23 metric tonnes had leaked from a damaged shore fuel hose used to refuel patrol craft at Selat Sengkir. 

The leak was eventually isolated at about 3.40pm and there were no oil slicks observed.

Related: Singapore confirms bunker spill from damaged shore fuel hose at Brani Regional Base

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 February, 2025

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