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MV Erika

Coordinates: 47°9′N 4°15′W / 47.150°N 4.250°W / 47.150; -4.250
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erika as Intermar Prosperity at Orinoco River in 1979.
History
NameErika
OwnerTevere Shipping (Malta)
OperatorPanship
Port of registry Malta[1]
BuilderKasado Dock Company, Japan
Launched17 October 1974
Completed1975[1]
Maiden voyage1975
In service1975
Out of service12 December 1999
Renamed
  • Shinsei Maru (1975)
  • Glory Ocean (1975–1977)
  • Intermar Prosperity (1977–1984)
  • South Energy (1984–1985)
  • Jahre Energy (1985–1990)
  • Prime Nobel (1990–1994)
  • Nobel (1994–1996)
  • Erika (1996–1999)
Identification
FateSunk on 12 December 1999
General characteristics
TypeOil tanker[1]
Tonnage37,283 DWT[1]
Length184 m (603 ft 8 in) (LOA)[2]
Draught10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)[2]
PropulsionSulzer main engine, 9,800 kW (13,200 hp)

MV Erika (formerly Shinsei Maru, Glory Ocean, Intermar Prosperity, South Energy, Jahre Energy, Prime Nobel and Nobel[3]) was an oil tanker built in 1975 and last chartered by Total-Fina-Elf. She sank off the coast of France in 1999, causing a major environmental disaster.

Background

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Erika was one of eight sister ships built in Japan. Despite having 10% less steel than many other tankers of similar size, Erika was very popular amongst shipping companies because of its relative inexpensiveness.[4]

Sinking

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On 8 December 1999, the vessel sailed out of Dunkirk, bound for Livorno and with a cargo of around 31,000 tons of heavy fuel oil. Erika ran into a heavy storm as it entered the Bay of Biscay. On 12 December 1999, the tanker broke in two and sank, releasing thousands of tons of oil into the sea, killing marine life and polluting shores around Brittany, France.

Course and oil spill

List of certificates issued for Erika by RINA:

  • International Load Line Certificate – Dated 16 December 1998 valid until 31 August 2003
  • Safety Construction Certificate – Dated 16 December 1998 valid until 31 August 2003
  • International Pollution Certificate – Dated 16 December 1998 valid until 31 August 2003
  • Safety Equipment Certificate – Dated 16 December 1998 valid until 14 August 2000
  • Radio Certificate – Dated 23 November 1999 valid until 31 March 2000

Total said that the classification society, Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) had reported that the tanker was in good condition, and that it routinely required certificates of good condition for vessels more than 20 years old. The incident triggered new European Union legislation as regard to transport by sea.

On 16 January 2008, Total, Giuseppe Savarese (the shipowner), Antonio Pollara (the handler) and RINA (the expert company) were sentenced in solidum to pay indemnities of €192 million (US$280 million), plus individual penalties. The judgement, while recognizing the risks inherent to oceangoing vessels, reckoned Total SA was "guilty of imprudence", from the fact that Total did not take into account "the age of the ship", (nearly 25 years), and "the discontinuity of its technical handling and maintenance".[5] On 30 March 2010, Total SA lost their appeal to overturn the court's decision.[6]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Erika (224572)". Port State Information Exchange. United States Coast Guard.
  2. ^ a b CEDRE, 2009.
  3. ^ "Ship ERIKA (Oil Products Tanker) Registered in - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 7377854, MMSI -7377854, Call Sign". MarineTraffic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  4. ^ "The scandal of the Erika". BBC News. 16 August 2000.
  5. ^ "Erika : amende maximale pour les coupables, dont Total" (in French). Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  6. ^ "Total loses Erika oil spill appeal". 30 March 2010.

References

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  • Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE) (November 2009). "Erika". Brest: Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
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47°9′N 4°15′W / 47.150°N 4.250°W / 47.150; -4.250

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