World Glory; 65 miles ENE of Durban, South Africa

65 miles ENE of Durban, South Africa | 1968-Jun-13

Initial Notification: At 1500 on June 13, 1968, the World Glory, bound for Huelva, Spain, broke up approximately 65 miles ENE of Durban, South Africa. At the time of the incident the weather consisted of southwesterly gale force winds, overcast skies, heavy swells, and poor visibility. Only ten of the 34 crew members survived the accident. The stern section of the vessel sank after about two hours, while the bow section drifted southwest with the Agulhas Current. The bow was presumed to sink at 30 06 S, 031 54 E, approximately 40 miles from the initial breakup. All the ship's cargo, 334,043 barrels of Kuwait crude oil, eventually spilled into the Indian Ocean. The response was led by the Port Captain of Durban. Since the economy of Natal, South Africa, depended on the upcoming winter tourist season, the primary response goal was to keep the oil from impacting the mainly recreational shoreline. Dispersant operations were organized by personnel from the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Industries. Other parties involved in the response include the Department of Transportation, South African Defense Force, the Durban Corporation, the Oceanographic Research Institute, the Natal Anti-Shark Measures Board, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Wildlife impacts were minimal. Duration of response was approximately 20 days with an estimated cost of $420,000. Keyword: Adverse weather conditions, sinking..