Jakob Maersk

The "Jakob Maersk" was a Danish oil tanker that struck a sand bank on January 29 1975 while entering the port of Leixões, Portugal, causing a major oil spill. Built in 1966, the tanker was owned by Maerskline Navigation Company. She was 261.81 meters long and had a crew of 32.

"Jakob Maersk" was carrying 88,000 tons of crude oil when she attempted to enter the harbor at Leixões, near Porto, Portugal. She grounded on a sand bank, causing a huge explosion and subsequent fire that burned for days. The explosion broke the ship apart, spilling crude oil into the water. Six crewmen were killed.

Containment and cleanup

Containment of the oil spill began with the placement of a floating boom at the harbor entrance. A straw barrier was placed around the wreck to briefly contain the spill while boats spread dispersants.

Local beaches were extensively affected. It was estimated that 15,000 tons of oil were washed up on 32 km of coastline, and traces of hydrocarbons were found on beaches 50 km from the "Jakob Maersk". The most affected beach was the shore immediately adjacent to the wreck, where cleanup began with the removal of the upper layer of sand and the application of dispersants.

Ecological effects

Ecological damage appeared to be limited. Only half a dozen oiled birds were discovered during the first week on nearby shores. There was no apparent harmful effect on local fish populations, although a temporary difference in taste was observed. Dead seaweed and molluscs were found, but growth resumed shortly thereafter and populations returned to normal levels.

The cost of the catastrophe was estimated at 2.8 million dollars by the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

References

*http://marenostrum.org/buceo/portugal/jakobmaersk.htm
*http://www.cedre.fr/uk/spill/jakob/jakob.htm
*http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ota/Ota_5/DATA/1975/7508.PDF