At 07:10 on
May 23, 1965
(40th year of Showa Era)

Collision of the Heim Vard against a quay
　

Within the port of Muroran

Norway. Tanker. 35,355 gross tons

The ship loaded with 27,283KL of crude oil entered the port, and collided against a quay by an error in ship maneuvering while it was advancing toward the shore. The crude oil caught fire and exploded immediately after it flowed out from the ship. It went on burning for as many as 28 days.

At 08:30 on
March 18, 1967
(42nd year of Showa Era)

Liberia. Tanker. 118,285 DWT

En route to England from the Persian Gulf, the ship was stranded by an error in ship maneuvering. About 93,000KL of crude oil loaded on the ship flowed out, and contaminated a total area of about 300km along the southwestern coastline of England and along the northwestern coastline of France. The ship was destroyed by the Royal Air Force in order to stop the outflow of the remaining oil.

At 16:50 on
November 30, 1971
(46th year of Showa Era)

Outside of the port of Niigata

Liberia. Tanker. 11,684 gross tons

7,200KL of Oman crude oil

While anchoring in the stormy weather, the ship was stranded after being driven by the wind and waves. The body was crushed into two, and the crude oil loaded on it flowed out.

November 9, 1974
(49th year of Showa Era)

Japan. Tanker. 43,723 gross tons

En route to Kawasaki, the ship collided against the Pacific Alice (Liberian freighter, 10,874 tons) which was en route to Muroran from Kimitsu, and was burnt down.

December 18, 1974
(49th year of Showa Era)

7,500 - -,500KL of heavy oil

The bottom plate of the heavy oil storage tank cracked, and heavy oil flowed out into the sea. It diffused all the way to the southern area of the Sea of Bisanseto and the Sea of Harima.

Liberia. Tanker. 228,513 DWT

En route to England from the Arabian Gulf, the ship loaded with about 260,000KL of crude oil was wrecked on a reef, and stranded after being adrift for about 12 hours by a trouble with a helm. The ship was broken into three parts in the stormy weather. All crude oil loaded in the ship flowed out, and contaminated a total area of 400km along the coast. It took about two months to collect the drifting mousse- shaped oil, and it took another six months to remove, treat, and dispose of the drift oil.

June 12, 1978
(53rd year of Showa Era)

Oil spill accident at Sendai Oil Refinery, Tohoku Oil Co., Ltd.
　

The port of Shiogama
　

Two heavy oil storage tanks and one light oil storage tank were cracked by the "Earthquake off the coast of Miyagi prefecture (M 7.4)" that occurred at 17:15 p.m. About 2,900KL of oil flowed out into the sea, the total quantity of which was almost successfully collected.

At 11:51 on
March 24, 1989
(1st year of Heisei Era)

U.S. Tanker. 214,861DWT

En route to Long Beach, California, the ship loaded with about 200,000KL of North Slope crude oil was wrecked on the Bly Reef in the Straits of Prince Wales located 22 miles to the southwest of the port of Bardies, and was stranded by an error in ship maneuvering. Eight out of eleven tanks were damaged, and 41,000KL (about 20%) of the entire crude oil in the ship flowed out in five hours. The oil from the ship contaminated a total area of 1,100 miles along the coast of Alaska, which ended up in the greatest oil spill accident in U.S.

Around 17:50 on
January 26, 1990
(2nd year of Heisei Era)

Liberia. Freighter. 2,027 gross tons.

916KL of heavy oil

January 19, 1991
(3rd year of Heisei Era)

Persian Gulf crude oil spill accident

Persian Gulf

With the start of the Gulf War between Iraq forces and multi-nationality forces on January 17, 1991, the oil facilities in Kuwait were destroyed and the Iraqi tankers were destroyed and thrown into the sea by the Iraq forces. As soon as January 19, the crude oil started to flow out of Kuwait into the sea. The spillage oil contaminated the whole coastal area of about 200km in a straight line from near the Abual Island to the north of Jubei all the way to Kafuji (eastern coast of Saudi Arabia). (Exact quantity of oil spilt is unknown. Reasonable guess is 150 million barrels - 400 million barrels?)

September 20, 1992
(4th year of Heisei Era)

Collision of the Nagasaki Spirit

The Straits of Malacca

Liberia (Nationality of ship). Tanker (Class of ship). 95,987DWT
　

13,000 tons of crude oil
　

En route to Australia from Brunei, the Nagasaki Spirit exploded and was destroyed by fire, and the crude oil flowed out after it collided against the Ocean Blessing (Panama. Container ship. 22,600DWT). However, the damage was minor because the oil was the light oil which evaporated, diffused, and disappeared rapidly in the tropical climate.

At 04:15 on
December 3, 1992
(4th year of Heisei Era)
　

Greek. Tanker. 114,036DWT

73,000 tons of crude oil

The Aegean Sea that was entering the port of La Cornia was stranded at the entrance of the Bay by an error in ship maneuvering in the stormy weather; then, lightning struck the ship, and it exploded and was destroyed by fire. A great deal of oil flowed out into the sea. The oil contamination extended over the area of 100km on the beach and 20km along the shore. However, the damage was relatively minor because most of the spill oil was burned up, diffused, and evaporated.

January 5, 1993
(5th year of Heisei Era)

Liberia. Tanker. 89,730DWT

8,500 tons of crude oil

En route to Canada from Norway, the main engine failed, and the ship was wrecked on a reef by a strong wind. The crude oil loaded on the ship flowed out. The work to remove the oil was tough in the stormy weather, and the spill oil drifted in width of 50m from the scene all the way to the area 14 miles to the west and 6 miles to the east. However, the stormy weather helped to diffuse the oil, and the damage was relatively minor.

At 20:06 on
January 15, 1993
(5th year of Heisei Era)
　
　

Outflow of asphalt from the Showa Shell asphalt storage tank
　
　
　

The port of Kushiro

246KL of asphalt

The asphalt storage tank installed on the landside was cracked by the earthquake off the coast of Kushiro, and the asphalt flowed out. Part of the spill asphalt flowed into the drain hole, and flowed out into the sea.
The asphalt floating on the sea was smashed into pieces by the crane ship, and was collected by the working ship. The asphalt fallen on the bottom of the sea was collected with the fishing gear (hasshaku). Thus, the spill asphalt collected totaled about 200 tons.

January 21, 1993
(5th year of Heisei)

Singapore. Tanker. 255,312DWT

25,000 tons of crude oil

The Sanko Honour (Singapore. Tanker. the ship with an empty cargo. 96,545DWT) collided with the Maersk Navigator in the center of the port side. It caused a fire, and the ship drifted while the crude oil flowed out of it.

At 06:10 on
May 31, 1993
(5th year of Heisei)

Tanker. 699 gross tons.

521KL of Heary Fuel Oil C

En route to Ishinomaki, the ship collided with the Daisan Kensho-maru (freighter. 499 gross tons), and the heavy oil loaded on the ship flowed out of the damaged hole of the right side of the ship. On the early morning of June 3, the ship was adrift about 20km north and south centering on the port of Onahama, and was washed up on the shore. The oil floating on the sea was disposed of by the treatment agent scattered on the sea from the working ship and the helicopter arranged for by the ship owner. The strategy of throwing waves of men into action was taken to collect the drifting oil by the fishermen from the fisherman's association of both Fukushima prefecture and Ibaragi prefecture. Besides, the heavy equipment was used collect the drifting oil.

March 13, 1994
(6th year of Heisei)

Collision of the Nassia

Turkey, The Bosporus

30,000KL of Arabian oil

　

Around 02:00 on
March 31, 1994
(6th year of Heisei Era)

Collision of the Seki
　

15km off the coast of Fujai on the Arabian Peninsular (UAE)
　

Panama. Tanker. 293,238M/T

About 15,000 tons

The Vinuna (nationality of ship: UAE. Tanker. 57,000M/T) collided with the Seki at anchor, which caused a hole in the No. 1 tank on the port side. The crude oil on the ship flowed out. The Seki was en route to Japan from Kerg Island in Iran, carrying a full cargo of crude oil.

Around 01:45 on
October 17, 1994
(6th year of Heisei Era)

Tanker. 2,960 gross tons

570KL of RABIBLEND crude oil

The Daigo Shoshitsu-maru (tanker) collided with the Hoko-maru at anchor, and the crude oil on the ship flowed out of the damaged hole of the tank on the right side of the ship. The oil fence was stretched on the sea at an early stage, and the spill oil inside of the fence was bucketed out by the crane ship. Moreover, the strategy of throwing waves of men into action was taken by the self-defense personnel, and almost the entire spill oil was collected in six days.

Around 17:05 on
November 26, 1994
(6th year of Heisei Era)
　

While Heary Fuel Oil C was being loaded into the tanker moored to the 120,000 tonnage pier of Fuji Oil Co., Ltd., Heary Fuel Oil C gushed out from three connecting parts of the loading pipe, part of which flowed out into the sea. 2KL out of 9KL of gushed out oil flowed out into the sea. All the spill oil was collected, and no damage to the fishing industry has been reported.

At 15:58 on
July 23, 1995
(7th year of Heisei Era)

The Typhoon No. 3 was approaching, and the Sea Prince stopped unloading the crude oil at the refinery of the port of Reisui to take refuge outside of the port of Reisui. It was drifted to Shori Island, and was stranded. Later, a fire broke out in the engine room, which was followed by an explosion and the damage in the cargo tank. As the result, the fuel oil and the crude oil flowed out. The spill oil arrived near the area 50 miles away from the scene of accident in seven days after the accident, which caused serious damage to the fishing industry.

February 15, 1996
(8th year of Heisei Era)

Liberia. Tanker. 133,855DWT

50,000 - 70,000 tons of crude oil

En route to TEXACO terminal in Milford Heaven, the ship got stranded. Later, the ship left a reef and got stranded again and again in the stormy weather and the tide. It is assumed that 50,000 - 70,000 tons of cargo oil flowed out into the sea.

November 28, 1996
(8th year of Heisei Era)
　

China. Freighter. 3,905 total tons

100KL of Heary Fuel Oil C

The Chinese freighter "Tonyo" left the port of Tomakomai with an empty cargo for Nakhodka around 13:00 on November 26. It started to be adrift because of the engine trouble soon after it left the Straits of Tsugaru. A patrol boat captured the ship with a rope temporarily, but the rope was cut off in the stormy weather. Then, the ship was stranded off the coast of Cape Gunrai in Okujiri Island on November 28, and the fuel oil loaded on the ship continued to flow out into the sea. The oil (130KL of Heary Fuel Oil C, 18KL of A-grade oil, and 4KL of lubricating oil) that had flowed out into the sea was washed ashore along Cape Gunrai, and spread over the area of 500m along the coast.

At 02:51 on
January 2, 1997
(9th year of Heisei Era)

Oil spill accident of the Russian tanker "Nakhodka"

Near the point 106km to the north-northeast of Iki Island in Shimane prefecture

Russia. Tanker. Built in 1970 (ship age: 27). 19,684DWT

About 6,240KL of Heary Fuel Oil C

En route to Petropavlovsk from Shanghai, the ship loaded with 1,9000KL of Heary Fuel Oil C was on a voyage in the Sea of Japan, when the bow was broken and the stern sank. The bow was drifted by the tide and the wind, and was wrecked on a reef near Ando Promontory at Mikuni-cho in Fukui prefecture at 14:00 on January 7. (Weather/Maritime weather at that time: Northwest wind 20m/s, waves 6m, and swell 4m or more)

At 21:00 on
April 3, 1997
(9th year of Heisei Era)

Korea. Tanker. 786GT

En route to Pusan from Ulsang, the Korean tanker loaded with 1,700KL of grade-C heavy oil was stranded about 65km to the west off the coast of Tsushima (within South Korean territorial waters), and sank around 23:25 on the same day. Oil flowed out of a tank (186KL). (Nine crew members were all rescued.) The maritime weather on the scene was the northwest - southwest wind of 16 - 18m, and the waves of 3 - 4m). The actions taken by the Korean Maritime Police Agency were soon suspended due to the stormy weather.
It was confirmed that oil was washed ashore on the beach of Komonohama in the western part of Tsushima around noon on April 9. The black oil clot intermingled with the seaweed and the garbage was washed ashore in waves over the area of 300m in length (about 1/2 of the beach). The size of the oil clot was about half of that of a grain of rice, and it was relatively soft. It is scattered rather densely. On April 14, the Maritime Safety Agency canceled the request for cooperation made to various relevant quarters.

Around 10:20 on
July 2, 1997
(9th year of Heisei Era)

Oil spill accident of the Diamond Grace

Near the Nakanose Route about 6km away from the Honmaki Quay, Naka-ward, Yokohama city

Panama. Tanker. 258,000DWT

1,550KL of Umushaifu crude oil

En route to Kawasaki plant of Mitsubishi Oil Co., Ltd. from UAE, the bottom of the "Diamond Grace" operated by Nihon Yusen K.K. (Built in August of 1994. Cargo was 305,000KL of crude oil. The cargo owner was Mitsubishi Oil Co., Ltd.) and loaded with crude oil was wrecked on a reef; then, oil flowed out.

At 22:00 Japanese time
(21:00 local time)
on October 15, 1997
(9th year of Heisei Era)

28,463 tons of HSC heavy oil

At 21:00 local time on October 15, the following two tankers collided with each other in the Straits of Singapore. Three tanks of the EVOIKOS were damaged, and oil started to flow out. In the morning of October 16, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that the oil spill amounted to 3,000 - 4,000 tons. At 18:30 on the same day, it announced that the oil spill amounted to 25,000 tons.
(1) The ORAPIN GLOBAL (129,000GT and registered in Thailand) was on voyage from east to west with an empty cargo.
(2) The EVOIKOS (75,428GT and registered in Cyprus) was en route to Singapore from UAE, loaded with 120,000 tons of HSC heavy oil.
On November 16, the Singapore government announced that the operations to prevent oil spill was over

In the evening on
January 6, 1998
(10th year of Heisei Era)

Oil spill accident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

About nine kilometers off the coast of the border between the Ajuman Emirate territorial waters and the Sharuja Emirate territorial waters

Officially, neither nationality of the ship nor cargo owner is unknown. Barge. 10,000DWT

About 4,000 tons of heavy oil

In the evening of January 6, the barge (nationality of ship, ship owner, and cargo owner not identified) filled with water sank about 9km off the coast of Ajuman, UAE.
The barge was loaded with about 10,000 tons of intermediate fuel oil and gasoline. The oil spill is estimated to be 3,000 tons or more at least. More than half of the cargo is still left behind in the barge, and oil continues to spill at the rate of about one ton per hour. Only the treatment agent is being sprayed, and no operation to prevent and remove the spilt oil has, apparently, been started in earnest. As of January 9, oil contaminates the area of about 18km along the coast of Ajuman and Sharuja.