1.4 Substances Carried
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.171(57) - Designation of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area - (Adopted on 4 April 2008) - Annex 3 - Vulnerability to Damage by International Shipping Activities1 - 1 Vessel Traffic Characteristics - 1.4 Substances Carried

1.4 Substances Carried

  1.4.1 While precise data is not available for the types of harmful substances carried on board the vessels that transit the waters of the NWHI, it is possible to identify examples of such substances from incidents that have occurred in the area. Three vessels, the Paradise Queen II (1998), the Swordman I (2000), and the Casitas (2005), all grounded in the NWHI and had significant quantities of bunker fuel or were carrying other types of fuel onboard (Cascadia Times 2006; Shallenberger 2004). These substances are harmful to the marine ecosystem and to the terrestrial environment when washed ashore. In another incident, a container of the pesticide, carbofuran, washed ashore at Laysan Island (Friedlander et al. 2005).

  1.4.2 Three other ship accidents occurred involving cargoes that may not be classified as “hazardous substances,” but that would be harmful if released into this area of the sea. The first incident involved the Anangel Liberty in 1980 where 2,200 tons of kaolin clay was dumped overboard to lighten the ship enough to pull it off one of the reefs on French Frigate Shoals. Fortunately, the currents on that day carried most of the clay out to sea rather than onto the reef. Had it not, the clay could have smothered coral thus adversely affecting the ecosystem. The other two incidents involved the grounding on Laysan of fishing vessels that had evidence of rats on board. Again, fortunately, the rats did not take up residence on the nearby island; however, if they had, it would have been extremely harmful to the ecology of the area because such introduced species can become “ecosystem busters” and cripple the ecosystem within that area (Shallenberger 2004).


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