Katina P

Katina P

### Fate

It was intentionally grounded off the Mozambique coast and sank nine days later.

### Coordinates of Wreck

25° 35′ 0″ S, 32° 59′ 0″ E

The Intentional Grounding of the Katina P

This Greek oil tanker was carrying 72,000 tonnes of oil when it grounded off of the Mozambican coast, 25 miles North of Maputo, on April 17th, 1992. After the Maltese-flagged vessel was abandoned, it sank in 2,000 meters of water nine days later. Two of Katina P's oil tanks ruptured and spilled an estimate of 13,000 tonnes of #6 heavy fuel oil into the Mozambique Channel. A further 3,000 tonnes leaked when it was aground. The South African tugboat John Ross was called to tow the crippled tanker, by the firm Pentow Marine, where the remaining oil would be transferred to another tanker. During the tow, Katina P buckled amidships and sank in 2,000 meters of water 107 miles from the coast of Mozambique. It was not clear why the oil transfer was not done at an earlier stage of the tow, as time was of the essence. The south-moving Agulhas Current spread the oil to the Maputo Bay. "The Maputo Bay, the estuaries of Incomiti and Matola rivers, mangrove swamps of Montanhana and Catembe, beaches of Catembe, Polana, Costa do Sol and Bairro dos Pescadores, Xefinas Island, and many more with disastrous environmental and socio-economic effects." [1]

Compensation of $10.7 million was claimed, but finally only $4.5 million was paid to the Mozambique government. The small compensation was because Mozambique wasn't part of the International Maritime Organization and lack of expertise in maritime claims. Investigations following the disaster revealed considerable negligence on the part of the owners and the captain of *Katina P*. The unseaworthy tanker had been scheduled for demolition, and was on its way from Rio De Janiero to Bangladesh where it was to be broken up. While crossing the Atlantic it was instructed to put about and load fuel oil in Venezuela destined for Fujirah in the United Arab Emirates. [2] Some 5,000 tankers per year were being routed through the Mozambique Channel in 1999. Along this vulnerable stretch of coastline there is no contingency plan for marine pollution, nor is there legislation covering compensation for spill damage. [3] The captain, Michael G. Chalos, was put under house arrest because the Mozambican government thought it was intentional because before the grounding and sinking, the Katina P reported damage to its hull outside Maputo Bay on April 16, it was taken under tow toward the Indian Ocean, purportedly to be unloaded and scrapped at an unidentified location in the Persian Gulf or Indian Ocean. But on April 26, as the ship was crossing the 9,000-foot depths of the Mozambique Channel, among the deepest commercial waterways in the world, it suddenly broke in two and sank. This seemed like it was indeed done on purpose by the captain. East African people affected by the oil spill, already battered by drought, famine and civil unrest, decided to aggressively pursue the Greek shipowners responsible for it. [4]

[1] \*No Longer Exists\*

[2], [3], [4] https://www.joc.com/maritime-news/mozambique-keeps-katina-captain-under-arrest\_19920709.html