Apollo Sea

History
Name: E. W. Beatty[1]
Owner: CP Ships[2]
Builder: Nippon Kokan K. K., Tsurumi & Shimizu, Japan[1]
Yard number: 893[1]
Completed: 1973[1]
Commissioned: 1973?
Decommissioned: 1987
Identification: IMO number: 7327677[1]
 
Name: Solita[1]
Owner: unknown
Recommissioned: 1987
Decommissioned: 1991
 
Name: Apostolos Andreas[1]
Owner: unknown
Recommissioned: 1991
Decommissioned: 1993
 
Name: Apollo Sea[1]
Owner: China Ocean Shipping Company[3]
Recommissioned: 1993
Decommissioned: 1994
Fate: foundered in gale/storm and sank on 26 June 1994 at 33°32.49′S 17°50.92′E / 33.54150°S 17.84867°E / -33.54150; 17.84867Coordinates: 33°32.49′S 17°50.92′E / 33.54150°S 17.84867°E / -33.54150; 17.84867 in 147–180 m (482–591 ft)[1][4]
General characteristics
Type: Cargo-bulk carrier[1]
Tonnage: 69,904 GT[1]
Length: 260 m (850 ft)[1]
Beam: 41.7 m (137 ft)[1]
Propulsion: single diesel engine with single shaft and screw[1]
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1]
Crew: 36[1]

The MV Apollo Sea was a Chinese-owned, Panamanian-registered bulk carrier which sank near Cape Town in June 1994. Leaking oil from the sunken vessel caused a major environmental disaster which resulted in the death of thousands of seabirds, including endangered African penguins.[5] All of the ship's 36 crew members died in the sinking, which apparently occurred so quickly that no general distress signals were given.[4] The first public indication that the ship had sunk was the appearance of penguins covered with oil. The source of the slick was initially believed to be the wreck of the supertanker Castillo de Bellver, but this theory was disproven and the slick was instead traced to the wreck of the Apollo Sea. The vessel had been loaded with 2,400 tonnes (5,300,000 lb) of heavy fuel oil when she left port four hours before she sank.[4] Later it was revealed that an automated distress signal had been sent directly to the owners via satellite from the approximate location of the oil spill, and the owners eventually admitted the loss of the vessel and accepted responsibility for the spill.[3][4]

Environmental impact

10,000 African Penguins were collected and cleaned. Of those, approximately 5,000 survived. Six years later, the region's seabird rookeries were threatened by a similar incident; the MV Treasure oil spill.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "APOLLO SEA CARGO - BULK CARRIER 1973-1994". Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  2. ↑ "Merchant Navy Officers - Canadian Pacific". Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  3. 1 2 Igna Schneider (1994-06-28). "Vermiste ertsdraer dalk oorsaak van olieramp" [Missing ore-carrier may cause oil disaster]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). South Africa: Media24. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Moldan, Anton (1997). Response to the Apollo Sea Oil Spill, South Africa (PDF) (Report). South African Oil Industry Environment Committee. International Oil Spill Conference. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  5. ↑ Underhill, L. G. (2000-07-11). "Five years of monitoring African Penguins after the Apollo Sea oil spill: a success story made possible by ringing". Penguin Watch. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
  6. ↑ "Race to Save Penguins in Black Tide of Death". Daily Mail. London, United Kingdom. 2000-06-27. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
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