Ievoli Sun was a chemical tanker chartered by Napolitan ship-owner Domenico Ievoli. On 31 October 2000, she sank at 49°52′00″N 02°24′00″W / 49.86667°N 2.40000°W / 49.86667; -2.40000, approximately nine nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) off the Casquets in the English Channel, with a 6,000-ton load, including 4,000 tons of styrene, 1,000 tons of methyl ethyl ketone and 1,000 tons of isopropyl alcohol.

History

The wreckage was caused by bad weather, and water intake at the bow, which filled the forward storage area and the bow thruster bay. The increase in weight caused a negative pitch, which worsened while more compartments filled.

A distress call was received by the CROSS at 04:30. At 07:17, a Super Frelon of the French Navy departed to evacuate the 14-man crew of the tanker, amid 65-knot (120 km/h; 75 mph) winds. An hour later, the helicopter arrived on the scene, and evacuated the crew in 40 minutes. The tugboat Abeille Flandre arrived and started tugging the tanker at four knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) toward Normandy.

The next day in the morning, Ievoli Sun sank. The D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée and the Tripartite-class minehunter Céphée were sent on the scene to reinforce Abeille Flandre and monitor pollution. Only small traces of chemicals were noticed.

References

External links

• Total Loss of the Italian Chemical Tanker Ievoli Sun in the English Channel - 30 October 2000 - Bureau d'Enquêtes sur les Événements de Mer (Archive)
• (in French) Perte totale du navire Chimiquier italien IEVOLI SUN (Archive) and annexes (Archive, Alt). - Bureau d'Enquêtes sur les Événements de Mer
• (in French) Naufrage du Ievoli Sun on polmar.com

49°52′00″N 02°24′00″W / 49.86667°N 2.40000°W / 49.86667; -2.40000