Erika: Archives

Chronology
The Erika spill, from the accident to the court case.

Response at sea
Since the heavy fuel could not be dispersed, the only response option at sea was containment and recovery.

Onshore response
Black beaches were predicted for Christmas and the symbolism of that image was hugely exploited by the media.

French response organisation
Explanation of the French pollution response system involving Polmar plans.

Product characteristics and behaviour
The oil transported by the Erika was a heavy fuel used for industrial combustion (power plants, furnaces, cement factories...) and power supply to ships propelled by slow powerful diesel engines.

Oil slick drift forecast and observations
On 12 December, the maritime Prefect for the Atlantic launched a daily aerial surveillance program, to be carried out by specialised French Customs planes (Polmar I and Polmar II planes) and French Navy planes and ships.

Oil pumping
The sea bottom on which the wreck lay, about 30 miles south of Penmarc'h and 50 miles west of Belle-Ile, is a vast expanse of muddy sand.

Impact on seabirds
The greatest impact on seabirds ever recorded due to an oil spill

A particular problem: local salt production
The Erika pollution raised a previously unencountered problem, at least on such a scale: that of the local production of salt in Guérande and Noirmoutier.

Cedre's role
At the news of the incident, on December 12, the duty engineer of Cedre immediately informed the Management. The response office was activated and staffed.