Amazzone 
- Name
- Amazzone
- Accident date
- 30/01/1988
- Location
- France
- Accident area
- off the coast of Finistère, Western Brittany
- Spill area
- Offshore
- Cause of spill
- Structural damage
- Quantity transported
- 32, 000 tonnes
- Nature of pollutant
- crude oil, paraffinic
- Quantity spilled
- 2, 100 tonnes
- Ship / structure type
- Oil tanker
- Built date
- 1972
- Length
- 290 m
- Width
- 39 m
- Flag
- Italian
- Owner
- Misano Italy
On the night of 30 January 1988, the Italian oil tanker the Amazzone, en route from Anvers, lost a number of bunker covers in a storm off the coast of Finistère. The vessel made her way up the Ushant Traffic Separation Scheme without warning the French authorities, leaving a trail of 2100 tonnes of crude oil in her wake. Over the following weeks, 450 km of coastline, from South Finistère to Cotentin, were hit by the slicks. The Polmar Sea Plan for the Atlantic and the Polmar Land Plans for Finistère, the Côtes d'Armor and the Channel were activated.
Nature et caractéristiques du polluant | |
|---|---|
Type | Libyan oil, paraffinic |
Quantity | 2100 tonnes spilled from a cargo of 32,000 tonnes |
Form | Reverse emulsion with oil (incorporating 65 % water) |
Viscosity | 27.9 cSt à 82,2100°C 110,5 cSt à 50°C |
Appearance at 20°C | Solid at room temperature |
Relative density | High at room temperature |
Flash point | 36°C |