Venpet-Venoil Collision
Encyclopedia
The Venpet-Venoil collision was a maritime accident involving sister supertankers; the Liberia
n-registered Venoil and Venpet, in dense fog off the coast of South Africa
on 16 December 1977. The tankers were travelling in opposite directions; the Venoil fully laden with over 250,000 tonnes of crude oil bound for Nova Scotia
and the Venpet, travelling in ballast
, headed for Kharg Island
, Iran
. The Venoil ploughed into the Venpet, eventually leading to the spilling of approximately 26,600–30,500 tonnes of crude oil.
, Japan
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
, work beginning on the Venoil in October 1972 and the Venpet in January 1973. The vessels were completed in March and June 1973 respectively at the cost of approximately $28m each. Each vessel was more than 330,000 deadweight
(DWT) which, at the time, classified them as Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). The current classification for vessels over 300,000 DWT is Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCC).
from the Iranian oil terminal at Kharg Island with between 250,000 and 307,000 tonnes of crude oil. The Venpet was in ballast on a reciprocal course from Kharg Island to Nova Scotia, having already unloaded her cargo. Under dense fog, which reduced visibility to less than 1200 feet (365.8 m), the Venoil made a series of small manoeuvres to starboard to increase the port-to-port distance between the ships, while the Venpet conversely made a series of manoeuvres to port to increase the starboard-to-starboard distance. The bow of the Venoil collided into the side of the Venpet, creating a hole 45 feet (13.7 m) deep and 180 feet (54.9 m) long. Both vessels caught fire, but did not explode because of their inert gas
systems - the flames rising 200 feet (61 m) into the air and the resulting smoke visible for up to 15 miles (24.1 km) around. Both vessels had been travelling at around 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h).
The collision occurred approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) off the southern coast of South Africa between Plettenberg Bay
and Cape St. Francis
. of bunker oil from Venpet's forward fuel tank and of crude oil from two of Venoil's storage tanks were spilled, for a total of , most of which was consumed by the flames; patches of emulsified oil created a 100 miles (160.9 km) wide slick, part of which impacted over 80 miles (128.7 km) of the South African shoreline from Plettenberg Bay
to Still Bay
. Another estimate concludes the Venpet lost of bunker fuel oil, and the Venoil lost of heavy crude oil and of bunker fuel oil, for a total of .
The majority of the crew aboard the Venoil managed to launch a lifeboat; although thirteen men who had been trapped by the flames were rescued by helicopter. Two men lost their lives in the incident. Two British merchant ships, the bulk carrier
Jedforest and the Clan Menzies rescued the remaining crews of the Venoil and Venpet respectively. The vessels were abandoned and initially drifted towards the coast as their fires eventually went out. They were towed out towards the Agulhas Current
to prevent them grounding on the coastline as well as ensuring that any further release of oil would be carried away from the coastline.
for repairs; the Venpet on 24 December and the Venoil on 1 January 1978. The latter had drifted 250 miles (402.3 km) southwest of the coast in the Agulhas Current
. The Venoils remaining crude oil was transferred to the tanker Litiopa before she eventually sailed to Nova Scotia. The damaged ships were sailed onto shipyards at Sasebo
and Nagasaki
for extensive repairs.
, South Korea
for scrapping in October 1984. Her sister Venpet was changed to Alexander The Great in 1980. In June 1984, she was hit by an Iraq
i Exocet
missile
whilst moored at the Kharg Island oil terminal. The large scale of damage led to her scrapping, which occurred in Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
in the October of that year.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n-registered Venoil and Venpet, in dense fog off the coast of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on 16 December 1977. The tankers were travelling in opposite directions; the Venoil fully laden with over 250,000 tonnes of crude oil bound for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and the Venpet, travelling in ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
, headed for Kharg Island
Kharg Island
Kharg Island is a continental island in the Persian Gulf belonging to Iran. The island is located off the coast of Iran and northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. Administered by the adjacent coastal Bushehr Province, Kharg Island provides a sea port for the export of oil and extends Iranian...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The Venoil ploughed into the Venpet, eventually leading to the spilling of approximately 26,600–30,500 tonnes of crude oil.
History
Both tankers were constructed in NagasakiNagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
, work beginning on the Venoil in October 1972 and the Venpet in January 1973. The vessels were completed in March and June 1973 respectively at the cost of approximately $28m each. Each vessel was more than 330,000 deadweight
Deadweight tonnage
Deadweight tonnage is a measure of how much weight a ship is carrying or can safely carry. It is the sum of the weights of cargo, fuel, fresh water, ballast water, provisions, passengers, and crew...
(DWT) which, at the time, classified them as Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). The current classification for vessels over 300,000 DWT is Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCC).
Accident
The ships met on the morning of 16 December 1977. The Venoil was en route to Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
from the Iranian oil terminal at Kharg Island with between 250,000 and 307,000 tonnes of crude oil. The Venpet was in ballast on a reciprocal course from Kharg Island to Nova Scotia, having already unloaded her cargo. Under dense fog, which reduced visibility to less than 1200 feet (365.8 m), the Venoil made a series of small manoeuvres to starboard to increase the port-to-port distance between the ships, while the Venpet conversely made a series of manoeuvres to port to increase the starboard-to-starboard distance. The bow of the Venoil collided into the side of the Venpet, creating a hole 45 feet (13.7 m) deep and 180 feet (54.9 m) long. Both vessels caught fire, but did not explode because of their inert gas
Inert gas
An inert gas is a non-reactive gas used during chemical synthesis, chemical analysis, or preservation of reactive materials. Inert gases are selected for specific settings for which they are functionally inert since the cost of the gas and the cost of purifying the gas are usually a consideration...
systems - the flames rising 200 feet (61 m) into the air and the resulting smoke visible for up to 15 miles (24.1 km) around. Both vessels had been travelling at around 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h).
The collision occurred approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) off the southern coast of South Africa between Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed Plet or Plett, is the primary town of the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of the census of 2001, there were 29149 population...
and Cape St. Francis
Cape St. Francis
Cape St. Francis is a town in South Africa, situated on a headland in the Eastern Cape Province. It is popular for its clean beaches and as a surfing location.The town is home to a Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center as well as the Seal Point Lighthouse....
. of bunker oil from Venpet's forward fuel tank and of crude oil from two of Venoil's storage tanks were spilled, for a total of , most of which was consumed by the flames; patches of emulsified oil created a 100 miles (160.9 km) wide slick, part of which impacted over 80 miles (128.7 km) of the South African shoreline from Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed Plet or Plett, is the primary town of the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of the census of 2001, there were 29149 population...
to Still Bay
Stilbaai
Stilbaai, also known as the Bay of Sleeping Beauty, is a town along the southern coast of South Africa about four hours by car from Cape Town. It is part of the Hessequa Local Municipality in the Western Cape province...
. Another estimate concludes the Venpet lost of bunker fuel oil, and the Venoil lost of heavy crude oil and of bunker fuel oil, for a total of .
The majority of the crew aboard the Venoil managed to launch a lifeboat; although thirteen men who had been trapped by the flames were rescued by helicopter. Two men lost their lives in the incident. Two British merchant ships, the bulk carrier
Bulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
Jedforest and the Clan Menzies rescued the remaining crews of the Venoil and Venpet respectively. The vessels were abandoned and initially drifted towards the coast as their fires eventually went out. They were towed out towards the Agulhas Current
Agulhas Current
The Agulhas Current is the Western Boundary Current of the southwest Indian Ocean. It flows down the east coast of Africa from 27°S to 40°S. It is narrow, swift and strong...
to prevent them grounding on the coastline as well as ensuring that any further release of oil would be carried away from the coastline.
Aftermath
Both vessels were towed into Algoa BayAlgoa Bay
Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
for repairs; the Venpet on 24 December and the Venoil on 1 January 1978. The latter had drifted 250 miles (402.3 km) southwest of the coast in the Agulhas Current
Agulhas Current
The Agulhas Current is the Western Boundary Current of the southwest Indian Ocean. It flows down the east coast of Africa from 27°S to 40°S. It is narrow, swift and strong...
. The Venoils remaining crude oil was transferred to the tanker Litiopa before she eventually sailed to Nova Scotia. The damaged ships were sailed onto shipyards at Sasebo
Sasebo
Sasebo or may refer to:* Sasebo, Nagasaki, a city in Japan and a base of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the city, later of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force* United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, a post-WWII United States Navy Base in the city...
and Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
for extensive repairs.
Later life
The Venoil underwent two name changes, becoming Resolute in 1981 and Opportunity in 1983. She was sailed to UlsanUlsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
for scrapping in October 1984. Her sister Venpet was changed to Alexander The Great in 1980. In June 1984, she was hit by an Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
whilst moored at the Kharg Island oil terminal. The large scale of damage led to her scrapping, which occurred in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the October of that year.