Ievoli Sun

The incident

On 30 October 2000, the chemical tanker Ievoli Sun, with 6,000 tonnes of chemicals in cargo (styrene, MEK, IPA), sent out a distress call during a storm off the coast of Brittany. The crew had been evacuated before the vessel sank on 31 October. It rests now 70 m deep, 9 nautical miles from the Casquets (Channel).

Spill response and risk assessment

• Chemicals on board (cargo):
• Styrene (3,998 t): Toxic, flammable, polymerisation risk;
• Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)(1,027 t);
•  Isopropyl alcohol (IPA)(996 t): Soluble, low toxicity, flammable.
• Oil on board: Fuel oil (IFO 180) and marine diesel
• Emergency measures:
• Implementation of the International Cooperation (Channel Plan, Bonn Agreement) with the UK and the EU;
• Aerial and maritime monitoring for the detection of potential leaks, changes in maritime freight routes and implementation of a monitoring network for the quality of the marine environment;
• Activation of the POLMAR-Land plan for Normandy.

Treatment of the wreck

• Pumping operations:
• Controlled release of MEK, IPA, and marine diesel at sea;
• Pumping of styrene and heavy fuel oil (160 t) using ROVs;
• Cost: 51 days of response, 8 million Euros;
• The treatment of the wreck started on 12 April 2001 and ended on 31 May 2001. They were entirely carried out remotely, using ROVs, in harsh sea and weather conditions.

Results

• Maritime incidents involving chemicals and their associated risks highlighted the need for a better understanding of the behaviours of products at sea (i.e.: testing in CEDRE’s infrastructure of the dissolution, vaporisation, and toxicity of said products), as well as their impact on the environment.
• Effectiveness of International Cooperation: Channel Plan and European experts.