Universe Leader 
- Name
- Universe Leader
- Accident date
- 22/10/1974
- Location
- Ireland
- Accident area
- Bantry bay
- Spill area
- Port/harbour
- Cause of spill
- Structural damage
- Quantity transported
- 85,000 tonnes
- Nature of pollutant
- Kuwait crude oil
- Quantity spilled
- 2,600 tonnes
- Ship / structure type
- Oil tanker
- Built date
- 1956
The incident
On 22 October 1974, the Liberian tanker the Universe Leader was unloading her cargo at Bantry Bay oil terminal. Nobody noticed that a gate, situated 9 metres underwater, was open. It not until two hours later that someone became aware of the situation. During that time, 2,600 tonnes of Kuwait crude were spilled at sea.
Response
Response operations involved 200 people. 140 tonnes of dispersants were sprayed on the oil. The port of Gerahie was protected by floating booms. 130 tonnes of oil was contained by the booms and then pumped to the shore. A skimmer was also used by the response team. On the shoreline, sorbents (straw, sawdust, heath-peat) were widely used. However it was only possible to recover the straw.
Impact
The oil polluted over 30 km of coastline. In these areas, the vegetation and the lichen were seriously damaged. There was fear for the fauna living there, however biological damage, particularly to fish, was relatively low.
Changes
Following the incident, the Irish government took measures to limit the number of tankers allowed in the harbour at the same time to five.
Source:
- IFP, Banques de données sur les accidents de navire ayant provoqué un déversement de pétrole en mer supérieur à 500 tonnes, 1970-1974, Réf. 26 704, Janvier 1979