ERIKA Sea Tech Week, Brest, 19 th of october 2006 Captain Charles Claden

ERIKA 12 & 13 december 1999 Decision making Drifting Assessment Daylight attempt Helicopter Personnel safety Choice of towing gear Search for shelter

ERIKA ’ s drifting Initial position : 47°10’ N – 004°36’ W Probable grounding around 5 AM on 13th

Assesment Action on the stern section Estimation of the remaining oil : Tons Residual buoyancy unknown Leakages replaced by sea water Drift towards Belle-île island at 3 knots

Daylight attempt Night falls around 18h00 Connecting at night would have been dangerous

Helicopter Safety of the intervention team Range of one hour on site Nautical transfer dangerous

Personnel safety To limit the time on deck Split up the crew Safety officer on deck Training presentations Crew’s experience Barriers which are not at 100% impenetrable, time factor must be added

Draft of the casualty The break is about 20 meters forward the middle mast that means that the draft is more than 35 meters

Choice of towing gear Emergency towing arrangement ( ETA) Resolution OMI MSC 35 (63) « Maritime Pusnes » system Must be laid out by a single man in less than 15 minutes

Search for a shelter Bathymetric line of 40 meters in blue Maximum draft around 35 meters Dynamic draft around 45 meters due to the swell

ERIKA 12 & 13 december 1999 Operation Air winching Connection towage Wreckage

Airlifting Safety of the 2 men transfered to the Erika was ensured by the helicopter Arrival: 14:00 Leave at: 15:00

Connection After-deck covered (10 to 12 m wave height) Need to shorten the duration of stay of the staff on the deck. Surf riding starts Risk of collision Duration: 7 minutes

Towing Stop the drift Heave to Avoid breaking the towline Keep in a triangle 9 km sidelength

Sinking 14:53 on 13 th december

Film ERIKA Directed by Herv é Hamon

Consequences About tons were spilled Mostly at the time of ship breaking The remaining could be pumped later because the wreck was lying at 120 m depth Retainment tow of the aft part avoided spilling an additional tons at a time when no protection plan could have been activated

Act ! Act quickly ! Act appropriately ! What should be done? Within as short a delay as possible With the best possible information With maximum efficiency