• Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Marine Tech
    • Air Compressor
    • Ship Generator
    • Oily Water Separator
    • Ship Stabilizer
    • Boiler
  • Navigation
    • Mooring
    • Watchkeeping
    • Maneuvering
    • Anchoring
    • Equipment
  • Maritime Law
  • More
    • Case Studies
    • Life At Sea
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Marine Careers
    • Naval Arch
    • Ship Safety
    • Shipboard Guidelines
    • Forums
    • Types of Ships
    • Financial Planning
    • Photos
    • Apps
  • Premium E-Books
  • Free E-Books
  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Marine Tech
    • Air Compressor
    • Ship Generator
    • Oily Water Separator
    • Ship Stabilizer
    • Boiler
  • Navigation
    • Mooring
    • Watchkeeping
    • Maneuvering
    • Anchoring
    • Equipment
  • Maritime Law
  • More
    • Case Studies
    • Life At Sea
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Marine Careers
    • Naval Arch
    • Ship Safety
    • Shipboard Guidelines
    • Forums
    • Types of Ships
    • Financial Planning
    • Photos
    • Apps
  • Premium E-Books
  • Free E-Books

Marine Insight

The Maritime Industry Guide

You are here: Home › Case Studies › The Ievoli Sun Chemical Tanker Incident

The Ievoli Sun Chemical Tanker Incident

By Mohit | In: Case Studies | Last Updated on July 18, 2016

TwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestBuffer

Around 12 years ago, the capsizing of a chemical tanker ship – Ievoli Sun – led to huge causes of concern on account of huge potentiality of maritime ecosystem pollution.

The Ievoli Sun chemical tanker accident was an unprecedented incident, an accident without any preliminaries but which left yet another distasteful memory in a long-winding list of maritime mishaps.

Chemical Tanker Ship Incident Details

The chemical tanker ship accident occurred in the English Channel, quite close to the Channel Island of Alderney, in the early morning of 30th October 2000.

levovi sun1

At the time of its accident and eventual sinking, the vessel was on-route from the British port of Fawley to the Barcelonan port and was equipped with important but hazardous and noxious substances like vinyl benzene (styrene), isopropanol alcoholic solvent and butanone (methyl ethyl ketone).

These chemicals are regarded to be extremely dangerous on account of their in-solvability in water, which further compounded the threat to the maritime ecology after the tanker ship’s unexpected mishap.

Some basic facts about the tanker ship

  • The tanker ship was registered with an Italian port of registry and was engaged by the Italian shipping corporation Domenico Ievoli
  • The chemical tanker ship measured over 115 meters lengthwise with a beam over 17 meters and a draft of over six meters
  • The tanker ship offered operational speed touching up to 14 knots
  • At the time of her accident, the Ievoli Sun was loaded with 6000 tonnes of the above specified chemicals in the ratio of 4:1:1 (styrene: isopropanol: butanone)

The accident was caused not because of negligence on the part of the crew but because of the prevalent harsh weather conditions. The prow (bow) of the tanker ship bore the brunt of the harsh weather causing sea water to flood into the vessel and pressurize its stability on the water. Fortunately, the crew’s alertness and the resultant distress call to the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Center (MRCC) helped in the timely evacuation of the crew by a French naval copter.

levovi sun 2

Concerns however were mounted extremely on the threats that the chemicals especially vinyl benzene posed to the ecology. However immediate response teams engaged by the French maritime officials to check out the spillage situation reported that while a limited capacity of vinyl benzene had indeed spilled onto the water, it had vaporized almost immediately, thus negating any causes for potential ecological hazards. As regards the remainder of the quantity of vinyl benzene, they were reported to be in a comparatively safer position and were expected to solidify of their own accord. These were later recovered and disposed of in the most appropriate manner by authorities.

Repercussions of the Ievoli Sun Chemical Tanker Ship Accident

The vessel was monitored by Domenico Ievoli officials before the vessel embarked for this particular marine shipping engagement. Though the company did indeed carry out a thorough monitoring, several loopholes emerged as various core equipment and facilities remained unchecked by the vessel’s monitors. This caused immense problems as issues about monitoring thoroughness rose, thus clouding the already precarious marine shipping sector.

levovi sun 3

The Ievoli Sun was a crucial reminder that marine accidents could occur without any personnel negligence but caution and prevention by way of ensuring vessel’s work-ability and fully efficient functionality before every operation is essential. These two measures would effectually eliminate any possible threats of such unprecedented accidents, thereby bettering the international shipping industry operational processes.

References: bbc, sciencedirect, beamer-france

 

Report an Error

Related Posts

chemical tanker Grouse Sun
NYK Group Takes Delivery Of Third Methanol-Fueled Chemical Tanker
ampar 8 tanker
Crude Oil Being Unloaded From Tanker Ship That Exploded In Thailand
Robert Cenac is pictured after the accident with bridge
Poor Communication Leads To Bridge Damage In Louisiana
bourbon rhode
Shipwreck Survivor Secures Compensation With Union’s Support

Tags: accident Chemical tanker NOx

Want to share your tips and advice? Got questions? Visit the community forum to ask questions, get answers, meet people, and share your tips!

About Mohit

Mohit Kaushik is a marine engineer sailing with Maersk Shipping. He handles website development and technical support at Marine Insight. Apart from handling web development projects, he also manages a logistics company and have a keen interest in modern logistic technologies .

Comments

  1. Eric Blaauw says

    February 12, 2019 at 9:42 pm

    Dear Mohit,

    On that particular day I was on a vessel half the size of the Ievoli Sun. (maiden trip in ballast from Leixous-Portugal).A small chemical tanker as well.
    To be more precisely we have seen the Ievoli Sun while we were finished with a evaluation of a fire drill on the bridge.
    We were all more than convinced that the speed she was keeping was perfect to destroy the vessel.
    I consider tankers like the size of the Ievoli Sun one of the most safe /seaworthy ships built in it’s kind.But if you don’t reduce your speed relative to the weather circumstances than you can destroy your vessel very easy.
    As I said we came from the south and were rolling like hell with massive waves rolling over our stern or “climbing” on board on the midships.
    Nor to judge neither questioning anyone personally……..a lot comes to good seafaring.
    The manifold has shifted one (1) meter over a length of 20 mts on my sister vessel in the German Bight in the night time…..trying to keep up with the commercial pressure……in the end we had to repair the manifold for several weeks….because some idiot in the commercial department pushes the Master but has no clue what a wave is except in his bath tub. A n experienced Master knows how to deal with that:Ship first at all times!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Now

all women crew vessel

Photos: All-Women Crew Embarks On An Expedition – International Day For Women In Maritime

Turkish ship fire

Turkish Seafarer Passes Away Due To Fire On Bridge Of Cargo Ship

autonomous vessel AI identification

Watch: Autonomous Vessel Avoids Collisions, Completes 800Km Voyage Without Human Assistance

Seafarers win commitment to mandatory internet access in international law

Seafarers Win Commitment To Mandatory Internet Access In International Law

freight ship

How to Calculate Ocean Freight Charges?

Marine Engineering

  • Marine engine
  • Air compressor
  • Marine boiler
  • Oily water separator
  • Marine Electrical
  • Ship Generator
  • Oily water separator

Nautical Science

  • Mooring
  • Bridge Watchkeeping
  • Ship Manoeuvring
  • Nautical Charts
  • Anchoring
  • Nautical Equipment
  • Shipboard Guidelines

Explore

  • Free Maritime eBooks
  • Premium Maritime eBooks
  • Marine Safety
  • Financial Planning
  • Marine Careers
  • Maritime Law
  • Ship Dry Dock

More

  • Shipping News
  • Maritime Reports
  • Videos
  • Maritime Piracy
  • Offshore
  • Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS)
  • MARPOL
  Privacy Policy   |   Refund Policy   |   Contact Us  |   Disclaimer   |   About Us   |   Team   |   Advertise  |   Send Us News

Copyright © 2010 - 2022 Marine Insight — All Rights Reserved | Made with ♥ in India DMCA.com Protection Status

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website