T/V WORLD BRAZILIA; Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama | 1990-Oct-02

Initial Notification: On September 30, 1990, the Liberian tank vessel WORLD BRAZILIA, loaded with approximately 1.8 million barrels of Arabian medium crude oil (API 30) anchored in about 21 fathoms of water about 57 nautical miles south of Mobile, Alabama. She had begun lightering operations to a Chevron transfer vessel when small amounts of oil were noticed coming from near the BRAZILIA's mid-ship hull. After some cargo was removed, lightering operations were suspended by Chevron officials and divers were called to discover the cause of the oil leak. The BRAZILIA, a single-skinned hull, 1,125-foot vessel had undergone hull work before this cruise, but reported she had sailed without incident in heavy seas crossing the Atlantic. Divers found a 6- to 8-inch fatigue crack in the BRAZILIA's bottom, mid-ship hull, 93 feet down her port side, about 5 feet inboard of the turn of her bilge. The crack was athwart ship, paralleling her 174-foot beam, and immediately below her #4 port cargo tank. Estimates of BRAZILIA's structural condition were guarded, but indicated it probably would not worsen. USCG district 8.