Spills

Francis, south africa

Venoil; Cape St · NOAAORR-6239

issued
1977-12-16 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1977-12-30 00:00Z
self-cancels
1977-12-30 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Indian Ocean
position
-34.433, 24.067
vessel
TANKER OWNERS POLLUTION FEDERATION · 12 messages
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Venoil; Cape St. Francis, South Africa.
Cape St. Francis, South Africa.
1. On the morning of December 16, 1977, the Venoil and the Venpet collided 40 miles off Cape St. Francis, South Africa. The Venpet was damaged, releasing burning bunker oil over the starboard deck of the Venoil and into the surrounding water. The Venoil suffered serious fire damage. The impact also holed two of the Venoil's tanks. Both ships were abandoned, and began to drift towards the coast. The fires on board both vessels went out as they drifted. Keyword: Manual removal, straw, suction operations, sub-surface oil, collision, fire, International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF)..
2. COMMODITY: IRANIAN HEAVY CRUDE OIL, BUNKER FUEL OIL.
3. POSITION 34.433S 024.067E. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6239: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6239

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1 within 180 nm since 1977 · 0 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Nothing else in force within 120 nm.

Worldwide now

8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.