Lykes Liberator
On Saturday 2 February 2002, the container ship the Lykes Liberator,
sailing from Bremerhaven (Germany) to Charleston (USA) with 3000
containers onboard, reported the loss of 60 containers in rough
sea, 120 nautical miles west of Sein island. One of the containers
held products classified as dangerous. It was a 40 foot open container
(ie. a simple metal structure, without roof nor sides).
The Préfecture Maritime for the Atlantic immediately addressed
risk matters as regard maritime traffic (drifting containers endanger
passing-by ships), as well as the risks for the environment and
possibly for human lives. On the very same day, a French Navy spotter
plane located a yellow tank in the relevant area. The observation
is confirmed the following day.
A drifting tank (Source: Cedre)
Cedre was requested by the French Navy to assess the
fate of the tanks at sea, and called on the services of Météo
France. According to their 5 day drift forecast, the tanks should
have reached Ushant Traffic Separation Scheme by 5 February and
the English Channel one or two days later.
On 5 February, the Préfecture Maritime required a risk assessment
of the impact on human health and the environment, should the tanks
strand on the shore. The information sent by the ship on the content
of the drifting tanks was vague. The reference given was that of
a class of chemical catalysts, aluminium alkyds, not that of a particular
product. The risk to human health is roughly assessed (risk of explosion)
but not the risk for the environment.
Towing the 3 tanks towards Brest (Source: Cedre)
On 7 February, the emergency response team received a copy of the container manifest. Albemarle Europe Sprl Co (Leuwen, Belgium), the supplier of the chemicals, was immediately contacted and was able to provide further information. The tanks floated because they were empty. But they were closed and may have still contain a few to a few tens of litres of chemicals, and vapours.
Name: Lykes Liberator
Date: 2 February 2002
Location: France
Accident area : off the coast of Finistère
Cause of spill : damage to ship
Quantity transported : 3,000 containers
Type of pollutants : aluminium diethyl iodide, zinc diethyl iodide and various other products
Quantity spilled : 60 containers
Ship type : container ship
Flag : American
The chemicals
were catalysts used in synthetic rubber, cosmetics and the pharmaceutical
industry. Two tanks contained aluminium diethyl iodide, the third
one contained toluene diethyl zinc. Both products react when in
contact with water (heat release), ignite spontaneously when in
contact with air, and are known to cause serious burns. The supplier
reacted quickly and responsibly, and provided the very same day
detailed information on the tanks, and the risks and precautions
to be taken. The supplier's emergency response centre was made available
to the French authorities.
On Friday 8 February, a tank was located close to the Ushant Traffic
Separation Scheme. The Préfecture Maritime decided to launch
recovery operations the following day.
On Saturday 9 February, the tug the Abeille Flandre
was sent on site to mark out the tank's position. The support ship
the Alcyon took them in tow towards Brest's harbour where they were
delivered to Albermale Co's security administrator the next day.
Répérage d'une citerne par l'Alcyon (Source : Cedre)
There were neither victims nor pollution, but a heavy emergency response workload in harsh conditions was necessary to ensure effective protection of men and the environment.
Last update: April 2002