O - 1 Oil Spill in the Black Sea

O - 2 Oil Spill Late May 1999 In a storm in the Black Sea, an old Dutch tanker proceeding from a Southern Russia Port collided with a coastal freighter just off the Black Sea resort areas south of Constanta. The coastal freighter, sailing under a Romanian flag with a small cargo of wheat, was headed for Istanbul and cannot be contacted. The tanker Captain advised official at Constanta that he planned to proceed to the port of Constanta to make necessary repairs. This contact at 2:15 a.m. acknowledged leakage in one of the forward tanks.

O - 3 Oil Spill (continued) At 2:23 a.m. the tanker Captain reported a large oil spill from the tanker, declared an emergency, and requested assistance. Bucharest officials received these preliminary reports at 3 a.m.; the first preliminary comprehensive report is not expected until first light. –Storm conditions preclude the use of helicopters and other aircraft before dawn. Meteorologists expect the storm, which is pushing sea currents in a south westerly direction, to persist several more hours.

O - 4 Oil Spill (continued) Any oil spill most likely will drift into the resort beaches. The Black Sea resorts are anticipating a banner year. –Beginning in June most of the rooms available are booked through September. Naval authorities in Constanta have denied permission for the Dutch ship to enter Constanta port or Romanian territorial waters.

O - 5 Based on sketchy radar reports, it appears that the Dutch ship has ignored these instructions and continues to proceed at 3 knots toward Constanta. By 4:00 a.m. representatives of Interior Defense, and Navy have gathered in Naval offices in Bucharest. Oil Spill (continued)