Oostzee

The Dutch Cargo Vessel “Oostzee”, on its way from Rotterdam to Saint Petersburg ran into a storm near the mouth of the Elbe River, on July 18 1989.

On deck were 3900 drums of epicholorhydrin, without proper lashings. These drums started to slide and some of them were damaged, causing epichlorohydrin fumes to escape.

The German Shipping Administration instructed the Oostzee to anchor at a place close to Cuxhaven, after which all 14 crewmen were hospitalized for 10 days.

Inspection of the cargo holds showed damaged and leaking drums mixed with the general cargo, the atmosphere in the holds was highly toxic.

After pumping out 2.200 litres of the spilled epichlorohydrin, the vessel was moved to a quiet port in the Elbe Estuary.

Risk of explosion was a hazard responders were very well aware of, but later it was realized that concentrations of vapours were well below explosion limits although well above toxicity limits.

A safety zone was set up around the ship, after which the cargo holds and engine rooms were ventilated to reduce the concentration.

263 damaged drums were transferred to over packs and sent for disposal. According to estimations, 8.100 l of epichlorohydrin had evaporated in the air.