French Response to the Katja Incident1

Abstract

ABSTRACT On 7 August 1997 at 0h30, the Bahamas flag tanker Katja hit a berth in Le Havre harbor. Immediately 187 m3 of heavy fuel oil flowed out of the aft port fuel tank into the harbor. It took two hours to complete the mooring of the ship, during which it was impossible to close the basin. About 30 to 60 m3 drifted out of the harbor following the ebb current. The situation was difficult to assess and got worse because of the heavy fog which lasted four days and thus jeopardised any aerial survey for the first days, and as it was in the middle of the summer holiday season, half of the harbor employees were on vacation, sensitive tourist areas were full of holiday guests, and the media were in search of sensational stories. Cleaning operations took place in the harbor and on fashionable tourist beaches such as Deauville and Trouville, using national and local equipment and personnel. The paper emphasises the problems encountered in the operations particularly when no sea survey is available and when close co-operation is required between administrations, “departements” and districts.