History Detail
Incident Name: Tarik Ibn Ziyad

Subject: USCG Case History

Incident Date: 3/26/1975

Incident Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Author: USCG Case History

Latitude: 22 54 S

Longitude: 043 10 W

Product: Crude Oil

Volume: 109950

Source:Tank Vessel.

RAR: Mangroves, crabs, commercial fishing, industrial water intakes, shrimp, recreational beaches, wildlife preserves.

Dispersants: Yes

Bioremediation: No

In-Situ Burning: Yes

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

Shoreline Type(s) Impacted: Mangroves, sand/gravel beaches, piers.

Summary: The Tarik Ibn Ziyad grounded on March 26, 1975 while entering the Sao Sebastiao terminal at Santos, Brazil. Tanks ruptured and the vessel leaked oil for approximately 15 hours.

Behavior: Oil impacted beaches at Governador Island, Bananal, Freguesia, Pitangueriras, Bandeiras, Engenhoca, Jardim Guanabara, and the Island of Fundao. Oil was accidentally ignited on the Island of Fundao. Oil entered the Jequia River, heavily oiling the biological preserve there. The oil in the preserve caught fire and destroyed mangrove trees.

Countermeasures/Mitigation: The State Environmental Engineering Foundation (FEEMA) coordinated the spill response of which the Ministry of the Navy, the Municipal Street Cleaning Company (COMLURB) of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, and Petroleo Brasileiro (PETROBRAS) were the principal participants. Overflights from helicopters supplied by the Navy began within five days to monitor the movement of the oil. Application of dispersants, and the use of straw as an absorbent were the two principal cleanup techniques. Skimmers and 440 yards of boom supplied by PETROBRAS were deployed in the Jequia Channel.\\Cleanup operations on the beaches were conducted by COMLURB and included the spreading of straw as an absorbent, and some applications of dispersant. Oil soaked straw was removed manually.\\Cleanup response lasted until April 6, 1975.

Other Special Interest(s): The dispersant P-69 was sprayed on the slicks and on oiled docks. On open water slicks the dispersant caused the oil to emulsify and sink to a depth of 3 to 6 feet. The submerged emulsion leaked oil back to the water surface.\\Oil in the Jequia River biological preserves caught fire, and destroyed approximately 24,000 square yards of mangroves.

References: •Genwest Systems, Inc. communications with ITOPF representatives. •MMS Worldwide Tanker Spill Database

Last Edit: 9/19/92