Английская Википедия:Amazon Venture oil spill

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The Amazon Venture oil spill occurred at the port of Savannah on the Savannah River in the U.S. state of Georgia. The spill, which occurred from December 4 to 6, 1986, was caused by three defective valves in the piping system of the oil tanker MV Amazon Venture, which leaked approximately 500,000 US gallons (Шаблон:Convert; roughly Шаблон:Convert)Шаблон:Refn of fuel oil into the river.

Authorities at the port were made aware of oil in the river approximately three hours after the ship began offloading its oil, but due to difficulties in locating the source of the spill, the ship was allowed to continue offloading until it completed on December 6. That same day, chemical testing revealed that the ship had been responsible for the spill. While initial estimates categorized the accident as a minor spill involving about Шаблон:Convert of oil, this value quickly rose over the following days, ultimately becoming classified as a major spill. Officials focused primarily on protecting the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area upriver from the port that included a large amount of marshland and served as a habitat for several endangered species. However, due to strong tidal currents, containment booms proved ineffective and about a third of the refuge would be contaminated by oil. Cleanup efforts would continue until being declared officially done on March 13, 1987, with roughly Шаблон:Convert of oil recovered.

The spill is considered one of the worst environmental disasters in the region, with particular concern regarding the long-term effects of the contamination on the wildlife refuge. The company that operated the tanker agreed to pay $1.2 million in damages to the U.S. federal government and the states of Georgia and South Carolina, while total damage claims from the spill totaled between $7 million and $8 million.

Background

A color photograph showing a port and related area

Aerial view of the Garden City Terminal of the Port of Savannah, 2012

The MV Amazon Venture was a tanker that was operated by the Greece-basedШаблон:Sfn Calluna Maritime Corporation. The ship was registered in Liberia and had a gross tonnage of 31,683 and a length of Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn On December 4, 1986, the ship docked at the Garden City Terminal of the Port of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia. The tanker had departed from Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago with a bulk cargo of approximately Шаблон:Convert of number 6 fuel oil and was scheduled to unload approximately Шаблон:Convert of oil at the port.Шаблон:Sfn The terminal was located approximately Шаблон:Convert upriver from the Atlantic Ocean on the bank of the Savannah River near Savannah, Georgia. Approximately Шаблон:Convert upriver from the terminal was the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area along the river that covered about Шаблон:Convert. Five endangered species inhabited the refuge: the bald eagle, the peregrine falcon, the red-cockaded woodpecker, the shortnose sturgeon, and the wood stork.Шаблон:Sfn At that time, the ship was the only tanker at the port carrying number 6 fuel oil.Шаблон:Sfn While docking on December 4, the vessel ran aground,Шаблон:Sfn with the port-side bilge keel scraping the bottom of the riverbed.Шаблон:Sfn

Prior to the ship's arrival in Savannah, the Amazon Venture had been docked at the Port of New York and New Jersey, where, in mid-November 1986,Шаблон:Sfn it was responsible for an oil spill involving approximately Шаблон:Convert of oil.Шаблон:Sfn At the time, the ship was transporting oil to Consolidated Edison, which had had an oil spill about a week prior that was in the process of being cleaned up.Шаблон:Sfn As a result, it was not realized at the time that this new spill had occurred, and only later oil sampling confirmed that the Amazon Venture had been responsible for a leak in New York.Шаблон:Sfn

Oil spill

Detection and response

On the night of December 4, 1986, as the Amazon Venture began offloading its cargo,Шаблон:Sfn oil began spilling from the ship due to three faulty valves. Approximately 3 hours after this began, the U.S. Customs Service became aware of oil in the river and contacted the Marine Safety Office (MSO) of the U.S. Coast Guard based in Savannah.Шаблон:Sfn The Coast Guard was notified at 11:30 p.m. and personnel were present at the scene approximately 30 minutes later.Шаблон:Sfn They gave an initial estimate of a minor spill involving Шаблон:Convert,Шаблон:Refn a figure still large enough that the spill was of federal concern.Шаблон:Sfn With this, several federal and state agencies were brought in to assess the situation and oil samples from ships at the dock were collected to be chemically analyzed to see if they matched the oil found in the river.Шаблон:Sfn While oil testing such as this would normally have been conducted at the Coast Guard's Central Oil Identification Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut, arrangements were made to have the tests performed in a more timely manner by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at their facilities in Columbia, South Carolina.Шаблон:Sfn After the discovery of oil in the river, the Amazon Venture was ordered to stop offloading, but after an initial inspection found no evidence of leaking, it began offloading again at 12:40 a.m. on December 5.Шаблон:Sfn It would continue until its offloading was completed at 3:18 a.m. on December 6.Шаблон:Sfn

At daybreak on December 5, the Coast Guard began to perform surveys on the area of the river near the port to determine the size and scope of the spill.Шаблон:Sfn These surveys showed oil contamination along an Шаблон:Convert section of the river, stretching upriver to the Houlihan Bridge and downriver to the port's East Coast Terminal.Шаблон:Sfn The same day that the surveys were being conducted, the Coast Guard set up booms around the terminal to prevent the oil from spreading. Over the following several days, booms were placed near the terminal, in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, and along the Wilmington River, which connected to the Savannah River downstream from the spill. However, due to strong tidal currents, the booms were mostly ineffective and contained only a small amount of the oil.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn On the evening of December 5, a diver discovered a crack on the hull of the Amazon Venture, though further sounding of the oil tanks did not show water had entered them.Шаблон:Sfn However, on the morning of December 6, chemical analysis revealed that the oil had come from the Amazon Venture, though it was still unknown what had caused the oil spill to occur.Шаблон:Sfn Later that day, the Coast Guard updated their estimates from Шаблон:Convert to Шаблон:Convert,Шаблон:Sfn which qualified as a medium spill.Шаблон:Sfn Around the same time, aerial surveys conducted on a daily basis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Coast Guard led them to believe that the spill was much larger than previously estimated.Шаблон:Sfn As a result, five members of the Coast Guard's Gulf Strike Team in Mobile, Alabama who were trained in managing oil spills were brought in to help with surveying.Шаблон:Sfn As a result of the surveys, on December 7, the estimate was updated from 11,000 US gallons to Шаблон:Convert, which still categorized it as a medium spill.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn That evening, the cause of the spill was determined: while offloading the oil, the ship was also pumping oil through its ballast piping system, which was then discharged from the ship's sea chest on its port side.Шаблон:Sfn This action was the result of three valves that had all malfunctioned at the same time,Шаблон:Sfn and later analyses of these valves revealed that the most likely cause for these failures was a section of Шаблон:Convert-diameter rope measuring between Шаблон:Convert that had become stuck in the valves and prevented them from seating.Шаблон:Sfn This inspection also led investigators to believe that the grounding was not the cause of the spill.Шаблон:Sfn As a result of the discovery, the Coast Guard ordered that the three valves be removed and steel plates put in their place to physically prevent flow through that piping system.Шаблон:Sfn After this discovery was made, Calluna Maritime accepted responsibility for the spill and subsequent cleanup.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

Cleanup efforts

Файл:Savannah wildlife refuge north aerial.jpg

Aerial view of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, 2013

On December 9, in an effort to slow the movement of the oil upriver towards the wildlife refuge, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers temporarily opened tidal gates on the Back River, a channel that was bifurcated from the main channel of the Savannah River.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn These gates would remain open until December 16 and aided in the cleanup process, which was led by the Coast Guard and involved six private contractors, including two that had been hired directly by Calluna Maritime.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Refn Calluna retained the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation of London to oversee its part of the cleanup efforts, and O'Brien's Oil Pollution Service, Inc. of Gretna, Louisiana was designated as the prime cleanup coordinator.Шаблон:Sfn Approximately 60 people were involved in the cleanup, which included the use of Шаблон:Convert of containment booms, Шаблон:Convert of absorbent booms, and nine vacuum trucks. The wildlife refuge was of significant importance to the cleanup efforts,Шаблон:Sfn as two contractors focused exclusively on the area, and Шаблон:Convert of the total boom length was deployed in the refuge.Шаблон:Sfn This emphasis on the refuge was echoed by Savannah Mayor John Rousakis, who stated that the refuge might be the area most affected by the spill. Additional focus was placed on Abercorn Creek, due to its water intake.Шаблон:Sfn However, the containment efforts were hindered due to both strong tidal currents and the inability to spread the booms across the width of the river.Шаблон:Sfn The presence of oil in areas thought to be protected by the booms was confirmed in part by oil found in the meat of shellfish from these areas.Шаблон:Sfn

On December 11, the estimate for how much oil had spilled rose from 50,000 to Шаблон:Convert, which categorized the incident as a major spill.Шаблон:Sfn This followed gauge measurements taken on December 8 that had shown a discrepancy of 500,000 US gallons between the amount of oil that had left the ship and the amount of oil that had been received at the terminal.Шаблон:Sfn With the declaration of a major spill, a Regional Response Team was officially mobilized, although many of the constituent agencies that made up the team were already involved in handling the spill.Шаблон:Sfn Also on December 11, the Amazon Venture departed from the port after the ship's insurer gave assurances to the Coast Guard that they would pay for the cleanup and posted a $5.2 million bond in a United States district court to cover any civil damage claims. By December 13, approximately Шаблон:Convert of oil had been removed, though on that same day, a representative for the Coast Guard stated that much of the oil would not be able to be recovered, with the remaining contaminant allowed to dissipate naturally.Шаблон:Sfn According to a representative for the Coast Guard, "It's not a situation where the whole river has been covered with oil. It's a situation where you have patches of oil and there'll probably be an oil sheen for a while to come. But with the activity on the river at the port and with dredging, the nature of the river front means you're going to have some oil sheen." In the case of marshlands that had been contaminated with oil, NOAA recommended on allowing the oil to naturally dissipate, as a manual cleanup could have caused additional damage to that environment.Шаблон:Sfn

On December 14, United Press International reported that sheen from the oil was present Шаблон:Convert upriver and Шаблон:Convert downriver, to the mouth, having been moved that far due to the flow of the river and through the tide. However, at the time there were no reports of fish kills or dead birds, though birds with oil-soaked wings had been spotted in the contaminated area. That same day, cleanup efforts shifted from removing oil from the river to removing contamination that had accumulated on the shoreline. Around this same time, Mayor Rousakis stated that the Georgia Ports Authority had been unprepared to respond to a situation like the spill. By December 17, the Associated Press reported that cleanup efforts had shifted towards the Wassaw Sound near the mouth of the Savannah River at the northern coast of Tybee Island, which was home to large populations of shellfish. Additionally, about Шаблон:Convert of oil had been recovered by this time, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reported that little oil had reached the sound through the three tidal creeks that connected the sound to the river. That same day, it was reported that oil was visible Шаблон:Convert both up and downriver, but that much of the thick oil globules had been recovered. Cleanup operations continued for the next several weeks, and by December 30, over Шаблон:Convert of oil-water mixture had been recovered, as well as Шаблон:Convert of oil-based debris, such as tarballs.Шаблон:Sfn By January 12, 1987, the surface of the Savannah River appeared to be free of any recoverable oil or oil-based debris.Шаблон:Sfn

On March 13, the Federal On Scene Coordinator, Coast Guard Captain John E. Shkor (the captain of the port for the United States Coast Guard sector that covered Savannah) officially declared the cleanup complete,Шаблон:Sfn finishing approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.Шаблон:Sfn The results of the cleanup included the removal of approximately Шаблон:Convert of oil,Шаблон:Refn Шаблон:Convert of oil-based debris,Шаблон:Sfn and Шаблон:Convert of oil-water mixture.Шаблон:Sfn Of the oil that had not been collected, it was estimated that Шаблон:Convert naturally evaporated, Шаблон:Convert was on vegetation near the shore, and Шаблон:Convert were unaccounted for.Шаблон:Sfn An estimated 50,000 US gallons of oil entered the wildlife refuge, of which approximately Шаблон:Convert were recovered.Шаблон:Sfn

Aftermath

Following the spill, the Amazon Venture docked at the Port of Jacksonville, where a further Шаблон:Convert of oil spilled from the ship.Шаблон:Sfn This occurred despite the three faulty valves on the ship having been removed and replaced with steel plates due to residual oil that had been left in the piping system.Шаблон:Sfn Authorities in Jacksonville had been alerted by authorities in Savannah prior to the ship's arrival and had prepared for the possibility of another oil spill, and as a result, the oil was collected shortly after the spill occurred.Шаблон:Sfn

The spill was considered one of the worst environmental disasters in the region's history. United Press International called the oil spill "the Georgia coast's worst environmental disaster", while U.S. Representative Lindsay Thomas (who represented Georgia's 1st congressional district, to which Savannah belonged) called it "the worst spill in our state's history".Шаблон:Sfn The uncertain long-term effects on the environment, and in particular the wildlife refuge, were of significant concern to many local leaders. Mayor Rousakis stated, "I don't know what the lasting damages will be but I'm sure there will be some damages in marshes and wildlife areas for a few years to come", a sentiment echoed by Hans Neuhauser, a local director of the environmental group Georgia Conservancy, who said, "There is a great deal of concern because we don't know the lasting effects this could have on the area".

In total, the spill contaminated approximately Шаблон:Convert of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, including Шаблон:Convert of intertidal wetlands and Шаблон:Convert of surface water.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Convert of shoreline in the refuge was moderately or heavily contaminated,Шаблон:Sfn and a total of Шаблон:Convert of marsh was heavily oiled, in addition to Шаблон:Convert that were lightly oiled.Шаблон:Sfn Additionally, almost the entirety of the Savannah River and its tributaries from the Atlantic Ocean to the crossing of Interstate 95 was contaminated,Шаблон:Sfn equating to about Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Near the river's mouth, most of Wassaw Sound and Tybee Island were affected, with Шаблон:Convert of shoreline lightly affected and Шаблон:Convert moderately to heavily affected.Шаблон:Sfn Despite the cleanup efforts, approximately Шаблон:Convert of oil was never recovered.Шаблон:Sfn Many areas contaminated by the spill bore a noticeable "bathtub ring" for some time after the accident.Шаблон:Sfn Air pollution, which is not commonly observed in oil spills, also increased due to the evaporation of the oil.Шаблон:Sfn

Файл:Savannah river cargo ship.jpg

The Savannah River, with River Street to the left

Economically, the spill directly affected tourism in the area, as tourist attractions such as the Fort Pulaski National Monument and River Street reported fewer visitors following the spill.Шаблон:Sfn Additionally, hunting and fishing in the refuge was suspended following the spill, with fishing activities resuming 18 days later and waterfowl hunting resuming 12 days later.Шаблон:Sfn Approximately Шаблон:Convert of oyster beds, much of which had been closed to fishing for several decades prior, were again closed only one month after they had been opened.Шаблон:Sfn

Following the spill, the states of Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the federal government, filed damage claims against the Calluna Maritime Corporation. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Park Service, and the natural resources departments of both states prepared for an assessment on the natural damages done by the spill. However, by early 1987, Calluna Maritime agreed to settle out of court, negating the need for an assessment. The corporation agreed to pay out $1.2 million in damages,Шаблон:Sfn with $480,000 going to the federal government, $500,000 going to Georgia, $240,000 to South Carolina. The Fish and Wildlife Service received $386,000 from this settlement. Total damage claims, including those made by the federal government, state governments, and 34 private claims, totaled between $7 million and $8 million.Шаблон:Sfn Overall cleanup costs for the spill exceeded $5 million, which was more than the corporation's liability limit under the terms of the Clean Water Act.Шаблон:Refn

On April 6, 1987, the United States House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries held a hearing in Savannah pertaining to the spill to gather information on the cause of the spill, how cleanup efforts were handled, and what policy changes could be made to reduce the chances of a similar spill from occurring. The hearing included testimony from several officials who had been involved in both the initial response and cleanup efforts.Шаблон:Sfn

See also

• List of oil spills

Sources

• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book

Further reading

• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite journal