MV Treasure oil spill
| MV Treasure oil spill | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°40′18″S 18°19′54″E / 33.67167°S 18.33167°E |
| Date | 23 June 2000 |
| Cause | |
| Cause | shipwreck caused by storm damage |
| Casualties | 0 (over 2,000 penguins died from oil) |
| Spill characteristics | |
| Volume | 400–1,000 tonnes (3,000–7,000 barrels) |
The MV Treasure oil spill occurred on 23 June 2000, when the ship sank six miles off the coast of South Africa while transporting iron ore from China to Brazil. The ship was carrying an estimated 1,300 tons of fuel oil, some of which spilled into the ocean, threatening the African penguin populations living on nearby islands. Cleanup efforts began promptly after the incident with particular attention being paid to salvaging the penguin communities.