Oil Spill in the English Channel
On 18th January 2007, whilst en route from Belgium to Portugal 80km south of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, gale force 8 winds and vast waves caused serious damage to the container ship MSC Napoli. The 26 crew abandoned ship and were safely rescued from their lifeboats by Royal Navy Sea King helicopters.
The vessel was carrying 2,394 containers, 159 of which had been classified as ‘International Dangerous Goods’, and approximately 3,500 tonnes of bunker oil.
On 20th January, the drifting vessel was being towed to Portland Harbour in Dorset for a salvage operation but the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) decided instead to beach it in Lyme Bay, near Sidmouth, Devon, following severe cracking and structural failure of the vessel.
On 22nd January, the Charter was activated by the UK Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat as flooding of the engine room caused a 300 tonne oil leak, spilling oil 8km to the north-east and causing pollution and injury to local sea birds. A full salvage operation was conducted and leaked oil was dispersed by chemical dispersants.
The end user was the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who used the data to monitor the movement of the ship’s oil on the water’s surface. Although the amount of oil on the sea surface was low it was visible as oil slicks on all satellite imagery covering the area.
Subsequent investigation and monitoring of the area has shown that, apart from the sea birds that died, there has been no measured long term effect on the marine environment.
Images and/or Image Products Delivered Under The Charter
 |
 |
|
MSC Napoli ERS2 |
MSC Napoli RADARSAT-1 |
 |
 |
|
MSC Napoli RADARSAT-1 |
MSC Napoli Envisat Wide-Swath |
