COASTGUARD NEWS - NATIONAL                 

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National 087/01
5 May 2001

INNER HULL PIERCED ON IEVOLI SUN


The inner hull has been pierced in a state of the art operation on the wreck of the `Ievoli Sun' in an operation designed to slowly release the first 267 cubic metres of part of the cargo of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in a controlled manner into the water column.

Salvage operations continue in order to fit base plates onto the outer hull by use of an ROLS (Remote Off Loading System) and has continued since the operation began in early April. Tidal conditions continue to limit the operation, which can take place only at times of slack water.

The first stages of the operation involved locating plates on the outer hull adjacent to each cargo tank. Over 20 such plates have now been located. These will be used to penetrate the cargo tanks prior to the removal of their contents.

The on site chemist is also undertaking continual atmospheric monitoring throughout the operation.

Robin Middleton, Secretary of States Representative said, "Slow, controlled release of non-marine pollutant cargo, which is biodegradable in these conditions began this evening and will continue until those tanks have been fully vented to the sea. The diesel contained in a number of small tanks will be left aboard."
During late October last year, after fierce storms in the Channel, the crew aboard the 'Ievoli Sun' were winched to safety after the vessel began to take in water. The vessel was bound for Genoa via Bar, and had earlier left Fawley in Southampton. The vessel had been under tow by a French tug `Abbe Flandre', and at the time of the sinking at 9.00 a.m. on October 31st 2000 was heading east in the Channel.
The 'Ievoli Sun' had an overall length of 115 metres and, at the time of the sinking, the vessel was carrying 180 tonnes of IFO 180 Fuel Oil and 4000 tonnes of Styrene, which will be pumped off the vessel and recovered.

The 'Ievoli Sun' was also carrying 1000 tonnes of Methyl Ethyl Ketone; 1000 tonnes of IPA-ISO Propyl Alcohol that will be removed by controlled release into the sea.

During the sinking at least one (probably two) of the styrene tanks were damaged and an unknown quantity of the chemical leaked from the wreck over a period of several days. This product reached the surface where it evaporated. The vessel now lies in over 65m of water, some 9 miles off the coast of Alderney.

Mr Middleton continued, "There is also up to 50 tonnes of Marine Diesel Oil contained in various tanks around the vessel. The risk of rupture of an individual diesel tank is negligible, and release of the diesel will most likely occur as a result of corrosion to the tanks. This will lead to small releases of diesel occurring over a period of time. Release times and rates from each tank will be different.

"The diesel is lighter than seawater and will move towards the surface, it will not therefore have any affect on the sea bottom. A component will be absorbed in to the water column; the quantity will be dependent on the release rate (the smaller the release rate the higher the absorbed fraction). The diesel absorbed into the water column will quickly dilute. Experiments have shown that fish will swim to avoid such contaminants and therefore there will be minimal affect on fish.

"Diesel is a non-persistent comparatively volatile fuel. The component that reaches the surface will evaporate fairly quickly, hours not days. The rate of evaporation will depend on the local conditions, but evaporation will occur more readily in higher winds and temperatures."