History Detail
Incident Name: Witwater

Subject: USCG Case History

Incident Date: 12/13/1968

Incident Location: Galeta Island, Canal Zone, Panama

Author: USCG Case History

Latitude: 09 35 N

Longitude: 080 40 W

Product: Diesel, Bunker C

Type: 2, 4

Volume: 14000

Source:Tank Vessel

RAR: Mangroves, sea turtles, oysters, mussels, wading birds, coastal diving birds, crustaceans, fish, molluscs.

Dispersants: No

Bioremediation: No

In-Situ Burning: Yes

Special Interest Topic(s): Habitat impact due to oil.

Shoreline Type(s) Impacted: Exposed rocky shores, sand/gravel beaches, mangroves, tidal mudflats.

Summary: On December 13, 1968, the oil tanker Witwater broke up in heavy seas off the Atlantic coast of Panama. The breakup of the vessel, and continued leaking of the wreck spilled 14,000 barrels of Bunker C and diesel oil into the water 5 miles from Galeta Island. The oil eventually impacted Galeta Island.

Behavior: Bunker C fuel oil is a heavy product with an API gravity that ranges from 7 to 14. Marine diesel oil has an API gravity of 31.3, and a pour point of 23 degrees C. Strong seasonal winds pushed the slick towards Galeta Island. Sand beaches, rocky coasts and mangroves along the island were oiled. Oil collected in a small bay on the island. An estimated 8,000 barrels of oil remained in the bow section of the wreck and leaked at a rate of 50 barrels per day.

Countermeasures/Mitigation: The United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA) responded to the oiling of Galeta Island. Several thousand barrels were pumped from the waters surrounding the island, and approximately 5,000 barrels were ignited and burned in the bay. By December 17, it was estimated that half of the spilled oil was cleaned up.

Other Special Interest(s): Both red and black mangrove trees were severely oiled, and the majority of the red mangrove seedlings were killed. Oil damaged many of the mangrove inhabitants, including fiddler crabs, oysters, mussels, barnacles, sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, crustaceans, fishes, and molluscs. Oiled herons and cormorants were also found in the mangroves. Dead sea turtles were found on mangrove beaches.

References: •Rutzler, K. and Sterrer, W. Oil Pollution: Damage Observed on Tropical Communities along the Atlantic Seaboard of Panama. BioScience Vol. 20, No. 4. February 15, 1970. pp.222-224.

Last Edit: 9/21/92