Alessandro Primo
On the 1st February 1991, the chemical tanker the Alessandro Primo was en route from Gela (Sicily) to Ravenna (Italy) when she sank in the Adriatic Sea, some 30 km from Molfetta (Italy) with her cargo of 3,013 tonnes of 1,2-dichloroethane and 549 tonnes of acrylonitrile. The wreck sank in waters 108 m deep. The 14 crew members were evacuated by a lifeboat.
An
emergency situation was declared and a technical advisory committee
set up. An exclusion zone was established within a radius of 10
nautical miles around the wreck, where navigation and fishing were
prohibited.
The
vessel was lying on her starboard side. The first pictures of the
wreck showed a rupture in an acrylonitrile pipe. This leak was sealed
using epoxy resin. The owners were requested to remove the wreck
to prevent any possible pollution.
The
acrylonitrile and the 1,2-dichloroethane were in sealed containers.
Acrylonitrile is a highly flammable liquid, used to make synthetic
rubber and nylon for instance. In seawater, acrylonitrile dissolves
and evaporates. 1,2-dichloroethane is a colourless, flammable, toxic
liquid, used as an intermediary in the production of paints, varnishes
and various plastics. Upon contact with seawater, it dissolves.
Name: Alessandro Primo
Date: 1st February 1991
Location: Italy
Accident area: Adriatic Sea, 30 km from Molfetta
Ship type: chemical tanker
Flag: Italian
Date built: 1983
Length: 103.92 m
Breadth: 14.23 m
Cargo transported: 3,013 tonnes of 1,2-dichloroethane and 549 tonnes of acrylonitrile
Type of pollutant: dichloroethane and acrylonitrile
Cause of spill: damage to ship
After
two months of in-depth study of the wreck and her tanks, a recovery
plan was put into action. Pumps (40 - 60 m³/h) were sent
down to the seabed, and the tanks were connected to the pumps using
deck cargo lines. The pumping operations lasted a week. A fleet
was made available at the surface by SMIT TAK, including a diving
support vessel, recovery vessels (one for each product) and a lifeboat
(and infirmary) for 50 people with a helideck. Nearly three months
after the disaster, 2,733 tonnes of 1,2-dichloroethane had been
recovered from the wreck's tanks, in addition to 2,850 m³ of
water-dichloroethane solution and 900 m³ of acrylonitrile mixed
with water.
Last update: July 2007