Tanker being grounded in an offshore ship channel
ALVENUS OIL SPILL
On July 30, 1984, the British tanker Alvenus hit the soft bottom of a channel 11 miles off the Louisiana coast and buckled hard enough to crack open its main deck, spilling 2.8 million gallons of Venezuelan crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. This was due to the tanker being grounded in an offshore ship channel. The giant petroleum puddle streamed westward with the Gulf current into Texas, where it came ashore on the Galveston beach four days later and 70 miles from its vessel. Oil washed ashore in Galveston for two weeks. The TAM Oil Spill Response Vessel "QUEST" with Dr Hann was present at the spill site to perform response activities.
The Alvenus owners, Lloyd's Leasing Ltd. of London, immediately accepted responsibility for the cleanup and performed well, according to Galveston city officials. But tourists tend to be turned off by tarry beaches.
CAUSE
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Tanker being grounded in an offshore ship channel |
TYPE OF OIL
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Venezuelan crude oil |
SIGNIFICANCE:
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Heavy tar-like, crude, heavy beachfront and sea wall impact on Galveston island |
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Oil Deposits in troughs offshore. |
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No offshore treatment of main spill |
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No chemical treatment |
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Responsive equipment oriented beach cleanup |
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Significant Waste Material Management |
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The Schedule of events that followed after the Alvenus Oil Spill on July 30, 1984
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Location of Alvenus vessel and the surrounding map
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The following links show the movement of oil during each day, some photographs taken and photographs of the response activities.
