8.3
Case 3 JOLLY RUBINO,South
Africa,10th September 2002
8.3 Case 3 JOLLY RUBINO,South Africa,10th
September 2002
? Since 15th September 2002,one of ITOPF's
technical team has been working with the South
African authorities to deal with pollution issues
arising from the grounding of the ro-ro vessel,
JOLLY RUBINO (29,119 GT,1978 built,Italian
flag), Our role has been to provide technical
advice to all parties involved with the pollution
response,and has involved regular overflights
and shoreline inspections,as well as meetings
with all the relevant parties.
? The Incident On the 10th September 2002 a fire
broke out in the engine room of the Ro-Ro
JOLLY RUBINO which subsequently spread to
cargo areas,The crew were safely evacuated
from the ship,On 12th September,still on fire,
the ship ran aground on the South African coast,
some 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Richards
Bay,The ship is believed to have been carrying
1,100 tonnes of IFO 180 bunker fuel in two wing
tanks and a further 250 tonnes in other tanks at
the time of the incident.
? Oil Spillage The wreck lies some 300m from the shore,
in an exposed position in the surf zone,A vertical crack
in the port side released bunker oil from the wing tank on
that side,the first spillage occurring at the time of the
grounding on 12th September,Fires have continued to
burn fiercely in the cargo areas since the vessel grounded,
and the position of the vessel and heavy seas have foiled
any possibility of getting the fires under control,This has
also made it impossible for salvors to attempt any
removal of oil from the vessel,or to verify how much has
been spilled or what remains on board,In the days
following the grounding,oil was being released slowly to
the sea,forming dark bands in the surf zone within a few
kilometres of the ship,where it was being naturally
dispersed by the heavy seas,
? South-westerly winds initially moved the oil
northwards along the coast,but with winds
changing to north-easterly on 16th September,
the oil has since being carried south by the
Aghulas Current,away from the shore and out
into the open sea,Long,narrow slicks which
were breaking down to sheen and naturally
dissipating,were seen to extend some 20 nautical
miles from the casualty,No clean up response at
sea has so far been necessary,A few tonnes of oil
have been found on the shoreline within about 2
km of the wreck,and are being cleaned up,To
date,sensitive environmental resources have not
been affected by the spillage.
? Whilst initially it seemed possible that the vessel
could be refloated and towed away from the coast,
a combination of heavy seas and the continuing
fierce fires have resulted in deterioration of the
casualty so that this option is no longer available.
The salvors remain ready to attempt to board the
vessel for fire fighting,damage evaluation and
eventually,bunker and cargo removal,but for the
moment the fires are preventing this.
? Protection of Sensitive resources Internationally
significant wildlife sanctuaries,which are important for
crocodiles,hippopotamusses,flamingos,mangroves and a
variety of bird life are located to the north and the south of
the wreck,in the St,Lucia area and the Nhlabene estuary.
The entrances from the sea have been protected from
potential oil ingress by using heavy mechanical equipment
to reinforce and consolidate natural sand bars to close the
openings,It has not been possible to protect mangrove areas
in Richards Bay because strong currents and difficult access
prevent the deployment of booms,So far,no oil has come
near to these areas,Some areas of this coast are also
important for recreational surf fishing and tourism,but it is
currently low season,There are no mariculture facilities in
the area or major commercial wild stock fisheries.
? Containerised cargo A variety of flammable
goods form part of the cargo of the ship which,
along with other consumables,have contributed
to sustaining the fires,The authorities have been
provided with a full cargo manifest and loading
plan by the ship-owner,Some containers were
lost from the upper deck of the vessel whilst she
was adrift,which contained some packaged
chemicals as well as general cargo,The potential
fate of these containers is being investigated.
8.4
Case 4 BALTIC CARRIER,Oil
Pollution,Falster,Denmark,29th
March 2001
Case 3 JOLLY RUBINO,South
Africa,10th September 2002
8.3 Case 3 JOLLY RUBINO,South Africa,10th
September 2002
? Since 15th September 2002,one of ITOPF's
technical team has been working with the South
African authorities to deal with pollution issues
arising from the grounding of the ro-ro vessel,
JOLLY RUBINO (29,119 GT,1978 built,Italian
flag), Our role has been to provide technical
advice to all parties involved with the pollution
response,and has involved regular overflights
and shoreline inspections,as well as meetings
with all the relevant parties.
? The Incident On the 10th September 2002 a fire
broke out in the engine room of the Ro-Ro
JOLLY RUBINO which subsequently spread to
cargo areas,The crew were safely evacuated
from the ship,On 12th September,still on fire,
the ship ran aground on the South African coast,
some 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Richards
Bay,The ship is believed to have been carrying
1,100 tonnes of IFO 180 bunker fuel in two wing
tanks and a further 250 tonnes in other tanks at
the time of the incident.
? Oil Spillage The wreck lies some 300m from the shore,
in an exposed position in the surf zone,A vertical crack
in the port side released bunker oil from the wing tank on
that side,the first spillage occurring at the time of the
grounding on 12th September,Fires have continued to
burn fiercely in the cargo areas since the vessel grounded,
and the position of the vessel and heavy seas have foiled
any possibility of getting the fires under control,This has
also made it impossible for salvors to attempt any
removal of oil from the vessel,or to verify how much has
been spilled or what remains on board,In the days
following the grounding,oil was being released slowly to
the sea,forming dark bands in the surf zone within a few
kilometres of the ship,where it was being naturally
dispersed by the heavy seas,
? South-westerly winds initially moved the oil
northwards along the coast,but with winds
changing to north-easterly on 16th September,
the oil has since being carried south by the
Aghulas Current,away from the shore and out
into the open sea,Long,narrow slicks which
were breaking down to sheen and naturally
dissipating,were seen to extend some 20 nautical
miles from the casualty,No clean up response at
sea has so far been necessary,A few tonnes of oil
have been found on the shoreline within about 2
km of the wreck,and are being cleaned up,To
date,sensitive environmental resources have not
been affected by the spillage.
? Whilst initially it seemed possible that the vessel
could be refloated and towed away from the coast,
a combination of heavy seas and the continuing
fierce fires have resulted in deterioration of the
casualty so that this option is no longer available.
The salvors remain ready to attempt to board the
vessel for fire fighting,damage evaluation and
eventually,bunker and cargo removal,but for the
moment the fires are preventing this.
? Protection of Sensitive resources Internationally
significant wildlife sanctuaries,which are important for
crocodiles,hippopotamusses,flamingos,mangroves and a
variety of bird life are located to the north and the south of
the wreck,in the St,Lucia area and the Nhlabene estuary.
The entrances from the sea have been protected from
potential oil ingress by using heavy mechanical equipment
to reinforce and consolidate natural sand bars to close the
openings,It has not been possible to protect mangrove areas
in Richards Bay because strong currents and difficult access
prevent the deployment of booms,So far,no oil has come
near to these areas,Some areas of this coast are also
important for recreational surf fishing and tourism,but it is
currently low season,There are no mariculture facilities in
the area or major commercial wild stock fisheries.
? Containerised cargo A variety of flammable
goods form part of the cargo of the ship which,
along with other consumables,have contributed
to sustaining the fires,The authorities have been
provided with a full cargo manifest and loading
plan by the ship-owner,Some containers were
lost from the upper deck of the vessel whilst she
was adrift,which contained some packaged
chemicals as well as general cargo,The potential
fate of these containers is being investigated.
8.4
Case 4 BALTIC CARRIER,Oil
Pollution,Falster,Denmark,29th
March 2001
