JAKOB MAERSK (Portugal, 1975)
On 29 January 1975 the Danish tanker, JAKOB MAERSK, carrying 88,000 tonnes of crude oil, struck bottom while approaching its berth with the aid of tugs at the port of Leixoes, Northern Portugal. The impact caused explosions and fires in the engine room which spread to the cargo holds. Several crew members were killed and the rest abandoned ship. The vessel continued to burn for two days and clouds of black smoke darkened the skies above the nearby city of Porto. Several local residents were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. After further explosions on 31 January, the vessel broke into pieces. The stern sections sank while the bow was washed onto shore.
It was estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 tonnes of oil was consumed by fire. A further 25,000 tonnes dispersed at sea and nearly 15,000 tonnes were estimated to have washed up on about 20 miles of beach.
The harbour was boomed off and a straw barrier was used to encircle the ship and concentrate the oil which was then treated with dispersants. Shoreline cleanup involved the removal of the heavily oiled top layer of sand and treatment of the remainder with dispersants. Very few birds were observed injured or dead as a result of the spill and local fisheries were relatively unaffected other than short term tainting. Large mortalities of seaweed and rocky shore molluscs were recorded.
Selected Bibliography
Hooke, N. (1997) Maritime casualties, 1963-1996. 2nd edition, LLP Limited, London
Environment Canada (1976). Spill in Portugal. A report of the Jakob Maersk incident. Report no. EPS-8-EC-76-1. Environmental conservation Directorate, Canada
Links
CEDRE - Case History
www.cedre.fr
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