Cason
On 5 December 1987, the cargo boat the Cason, transporting 1,100
tonnes of chemicals, ran aground on the Spanish coast near Cape
Finisterre. The cargo was composed of nearly 5,000 barrels, cans,
containers and bags of flammable products (xylene, butanol, butyl
acrylate, cyclohexanone, sodium), toxic products (anilin oil, diphenyl-methan,
o-cresol, dibutyl phtalate) and corrosive products (phosphoric acid,
phthalic anhydride).
The ship went on fire when the containers filled
with sodium on the deck cargo came into contact with seawater. 23
out of the 31 crew members died during the fire.
The Cason on fire (source: Cedre)
Part of the cargo loaded on the deck was unloaded. But on night of 10 December, a series of explosions shook the vessel. The surrounding communities were panic-stricken and 15,000 people had to be evacuated within a radius of 5 km.
The wreck of the Cason (source: Cedre)
Name: Cason
Date: 5 December 1987
Location: Spain
Accident area : Cape Finisterre, Galicia
Cause of spill : grounding
Quantity transported : 1,100 tonnes
Type of pollutant : toxic, inflammable and corrosive chemicals
Quantity spilled : 1,100 tonnes
Ship type : cargo ship
Date built : 1969
Length : 137 m
Width : 21 m
Flag : Panama
The wreck of the Cason (source: Cedre)
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Last update: June 2011