Ece/General Grot Rowecki

The incident

On the night of 30 to 31 January 2006, the chemical tanker Ece (with 10,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid in cargo) and the bulk carrier General Grot Rowecki collided 90 km West of Cherbourg. The Ece developed a leak and a significant list. It was towed towards le Havre and, on 1 February, sank 70 m deep, 50 nautical miles West of La Hague.

Pollution response and crisis management regarding the wreck

• Limited potential pollution: 40 tonnes of fuel and risk of phosphoric acid leak (non-toxic, soluble, low persistence).
• Measures:
• Oil pumping and controlled release of the phosphoric acid (operation programmed for the summer of 2006).
• Fishing ban around the wreck until September 2006.
• French-British cooperation trough the Channel Plan for monitoring and response.

Conclusions and developments

• Phosphoric acid: Class D (low danger level) according to the MARPOL Convention. Localised risk for temporary acidification of water.
• Good functioning of international support plans, but need for a better knowledge of chemicals by the authorities.
• No major environmental impact expected, but monitoring of the potentially polluting wrecks.