The Braer Disaster

The Braer, a Norwegian Oil Tanker carrying 85,000 tonnes of crude oil, was wrecked on the southern coast of the Shetland Islands, northern Scotland. The vessel was transporting it’s payload from Norway to Canada. It left Mongstad, Norway, on January 3rd, 1993. While crossing the North Sea, fierce winds blowing with hurricane force caused the boat to become 4 or 5 miles south of its planned route. But this shouldn’t have been a major concern, even in these treacherous conditions.

The first problem to happen to the ship was the failing of the main power generator, which had been running on diesel. The main engine, which ran on heavy oil, was reconnected to run on diesel, so that the generator could be turned off for repairs. The procedure should have been fairly simple; however, no one anticipated that the crew would not be able to restart the generator. The main reason for this was the fact that the fuel lines had become contaminated with salt water.

In the early hours of the morning on the 5th, the main engine, which had been running on diesel, began to fail. The vessel’s master took the decision to re-plot a course for the Scottish mainland and lay anchor for repairs. At about 4:40am the main engine failed completely and with no generator functional the main electricity supply went down. This caused loss of the navigational systems and other important electronics. By this time the Braer has started to drift off-course towards the Island of Shetland.

At 6:00am two fishing vessels named the Treasure and Philorth sighted the Braer on radar and discovered the ship to be showing 2 red warning lights, a sign of trouble.

At 6:25am the Braer sent out an XXX Urgency message stating she was without main power and radio communication was running on back-up emergency power. The Shetland Coastguard broadcasted an emergency message to all local ships for information. The Philorth replied giving co-ordinates to the Braer’s position. She was 5 miles south of Sumburgh Head.

Around 7:00am all non-essential crew members were evacuated by helicopter. The distressed ship continued to drift north, narrowly avoiding the dangerous rocks surrounding 2 separate islands not far from the coast.

Around 11:00am the ship master returned to the scene along with his fellow officers and Shetland Island’s port safety master and a marine pilot. At this time, another ship, the Star Sirius was attempting to fire rocket support lines to the drifting tanker to try and pull it free from the impending danger. The first rocket failed, but the second was successful. Unfortunately, time was against the crews and while the second line was being attached, the Braer ran a-ground. On the rocks of Garths Ness, in south west Shetland, the Japanese 18 year old vessel spilled it’s cargo into the North Sea. All efforts to avoid another oil spillage disaster had failed.

The Oil was a different variety to the normal North Sea oil. It was lighter and much more biodegradable. This could be seen as a good thing, but it was still a great threat to the environment. The spillage zone spanned in both directions along the coast but the area around Garths Ness was the worst affected. The area is renowned for its bird and marine life. Yet it was not just the coastline that was affected. Spray from the waves of the hurricane storm picked up the oil and dumped it on the land. The farmland closest to the shore was destroyed and crops were destroyed. Many fresh-water lochs were also infected by the potent fuel. The lives of animals and even humans were threatened. The Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU) carried out a trial dispersant spraying in the morning. Some of the oil was successfully dispersed.

Gradually the area began to heal itself but the communities will always be ready if it is to happen again.