Bahamas
On
24 July 1998, the chemical tanker Bahamas entered the port of Rio Grande
in Brazil loaded with 19,000 tonnes of 95% sulphuric acid.
As
a
result of certain technical errors and a crisis situation onboard
the vessel due to the delapidated state of the vessel, the engine
room became flooded with a mixture of water and acid. This highly
corrosive mixture created serious problems for the vessel's structure.
By 30 August, the vessel had developed a considerable list and
the acid had reached the generators. The crew abandoned ship for
fear of explosion. Jets of liquid were observed spurting out of
the tanks and the pump room, composed of water and acid. The company
Smit Tak was contracted by the shipowners to pump part of the
cargo to land. However, the acid and water mixture was too corrosive
and destroyed the hose.
The
problematic factors for response were:
- the high risk of explosion caused by the generation of hydrogen
- the absence of a suitable tank on land to hold the corrosive water and acid mixture
- the corrosion of the ship’s structures which could lead to the leaching of heavy metals in the environment
- the location of the accident in a port, making it impossible to neutralize such an large quantity of acid
On 22 October 1998, the decision was made to gradually discharge
the cargo from the vessel, at outgoing tide, into the port, while
constantly monitoring the pH. The pumping operation lasted more
than eleven days, without ever exceeding the agreed pH limits
and without the leaching of ferric compounds from the hull.
On 20 April 1999, by which time the vessel had been emptied of
its cargo, the Bahamas was scuttled in international waters upon
the decision of the maritime authorities.
Name: Bahamas
Date: 24 August 1998
Location: Brazil
Accident area: Trevo’s terminal, Rio Grande
Cause of spill: damage to ship
Quantity transported: 19,000 tonnes
Type of pollutant: 95 % sulphuric acid
Ship type: chemical tanker
Flag: Maltese
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Last update: June 2011