Global InformationCastillo de Bellver oil spill information
| Castillo de Bellver oil spill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Saldanha Bay, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°16.55′S 17°30.28′E / 33.27583°S 17.50467°E[1] |
| Date | 6 August 1983 |
| Cause | |
| Cause | fire |
| Spill characteristics | |
| Volume | 145,000-170,000 tonnes (176,000-210,000 cubic metres)[Note 1] |
The MT Castillo de Bellver oil spill began on 6 August 1983, when the Spanish tanker caught on fire off Saldanha Bay, approximately 70 miles northwest of Cape Town, South Africa. It was carrying 250,000 tonnes (300,000 cubic metres) of light crude oil, and was traveling through an environmentally sensitive area known for its seabird rookeries and important commercial fishing grounds.[4] The burning vessel was abandoned and broke apart after drifting offshore. Three crew were lost.[5] The stern capsized and sunk and the bow was sunk using explosives. A total of 145,000-170,000 tonnes (176,000-210,000 cubic metres) of oil entered the sea.[6] Onshore impacts were considered negligible as the slick traveled seaward. The only visible impact was the oiling of 1,500 gannets that were on a nearby island.[7][8]
- ^ Moldan, Anton (1997). "Response to the Apollo Sea Oil Spill, South Africa" (PDF). International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 1997. South African Oil Industry Environment Committee. International Oil Spill Conference: 777–781. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-1997-1-777. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ "Castillo De Bellver, South Africa, 1983". The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited. 6 August 1983. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ List of crude oil products
- ^ "Castillo de Bellver". Cedre. France. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
- ^ "Penguins threatened by oil slick (1983)". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1983-08-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
- ^ Moldan, A.G.S.; Jackson, L.F.; McGibbon, S.; Van Der Westhuizen, J. (March 1985). "Some aspects of the Castillo de Bellver oilspill". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 16 (3): 97–102. doi:10.1016/0025-326x(85)90530-2.
- ^ "Castillo De Bellver, South Africa, 1983". IOPF. The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited. 6 August 1983. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ Casselman, Anne (2012). "10 Biggest Oil Spills in History". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
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