M/V Alvenus; Calcasieu River bar channel, 11 miles SE of Cameron, Louisiana

Calcasieu River bar channel, 11 miles SE of Cameron, Louisiana | 1984-Jul-30

Initial Notification: On July 30, 1984 at 1236 the U.K. Tank Vessel Alvenus grounded in the Calcasieu River Bar Channel 11 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana. The vessel suffered a structural failure which ruptured the hull near the No. 2 tanks. The resulting spill of approximately 65,500 barrels of Venezuelan Merey and Pilon crude oil was carried in a westerly direction by wind and currents. Offshore recovery was hampered by rough weather and the magnitude of the spill. The water temperature was 80?F and winds were from the east and northeast 15-20 knots. The spill moved slowly westward, coming ashore near High Island, along the Bolivar Peninsula, and into Galveston Bay, Texas between Aug. 2-5. Oil impacts were severe at Rollover Inlet and Crystal Beach, and on Aug. 4 more oil was pushed ashore further south along the Galveston Island coast. The spill affected 90% of Galveston's West Beach, including 80% of the Galveston seawall and the associated rock groins and pilings. Oil in the seawall area was a concern due to the oils smothering effect on marine organisms. Organisms in this area were determined to be a minor part of the entire ecosystem and due to their transient nature were able to move to more suitable habitats. Several dead crabs, rays, and fish were recovered along the seawall but could not be directly attributed to the spill. Also oiled were marsh grass areas in East Bay (10-20 barrels) and 2 small lagoons. Some oil which entered Galveston Channel did affect several small sand islands used as nesting sites for birds, although no affected birds or eggs were reported. One oiled sea turtle was cleaned and released. Tourism losses were estimated at $1 million per day. Commercial shrimp fishermen filed a suit for $10 million. By October 1 the oiled beaches of Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island had been cleaned by the removal of oiled sand. USCG district 8. Keyword: Corexit 9527, hydro-blasting, reoiling, International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), sub-surface oil, manual removal..