Spills

Cervantes, western australia

Kirki; Cervantes, Western Australia · NOAAORR-6821

issued
1991-07-21 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1991-08-04 00:00Z
self-cancels
1991-08-04 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Indian Ocean
position
-30.633, 114.683
vessel
TANKER KIRKI CAUGHT
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Kirki; Cervantes, Western Australia.
Cervantes, Western Australia.
1. On July 21, 1991, the Greek tanker Kirki caught fire 20 miles off the coast of Western Australia, near Cervantes. The vessel was en-route from the Arabian Gulf to Kwinana, Australia. It was owned by Mayamar Marine Enterprises of Piraeus, Greece. The Kirki's bow broke off in heavy seas, rupturing two of the forward tanks. Approximately 135,000 barrels of light Murban crude were spilled, most of it on the first day. Small amounts of oil leaked during the subsequent towing of the Kirki. The salvage vessel Lady Kathleen was in the area of the incident and responded quickly to the Kirki's distress call. The Lady Kathleen towed the vessel to the west away from the shore, preventing further casualties. Keyword: Lightering, boom, fire, evaporation, Ardox 6120, Shell VTS, salvage..
2. COMMODITY: LIGHT MURBAN CRUDE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 5670000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 30.633S 114.683E. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6821: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6821

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1 within 180 nm since 1991 · 0 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

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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

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