The MT Castillo de Bellver oil spill began on 6 August 1983, when the Spanish tanker caught on fire off Saldanha Bay, approximately 70 miles northwest of Cape Town, South Africa. It was carrying 250,000 tonnes (300,000 cubic metres) of light crude oil, and was traveling through an environmentally sensitive area known for its seabird rookeries and important commercial fishing grounds. The burning vessel was abandoned and broke apart after drifting offshore. Three crew were lost. The stern capsized and sunk and the bow was sunk using explosives. A total of 145,000-170,000 tonnes (176,000-210,000 cubic metres) of oil entered the sea. Onshore impacts were considered negligible as the slick traveled seaward. The only visible impact was the oiling of 1,500 gannets that were on a nearby island. Ship The Castillo de Bellver was built in 1978 to carry light crude oil. Incident On 6 August 1983, the Spanish oil tanker Castillo de Bellver was en route from the Persian Gulf to Spain transporting 250,000 tonnes (300,000 cubic metres) of light crude oil. Around off Table Bay, South Africa, it exploded and proceeded to burn. The crew abandoned the ship, which proceeded to drift off the coast, eventually breaking in two at around 10 a.m. Approximately of light crude was initially spilled into the sea, creating a flaming oil slick. By mid-morning, the ship trailed an oil slick long and wide. A fishing trawler, Harvest Carina, rescued 32 crew members from a lifeboat. A passing container ship rescued another crew member. Three additional persons were declared missing. The stern section of the ship capsized and sank on 7 August in deep waters, off the coast. There were of oil remaining in Castillo de Bellver's tanks. The bow had drifted towards an area that included the Langebaan Lagoon marine life sanctuary, a -long strip of coast south of Saldanha Port. The bow section was then towed away from the coast and was eventually sunk using explosives. A total of of oil was released into the sea during the incident. Response The pollution threat to Cape Province beaches was initially considered "enormous", according to a Cape Town port official. He said that the current could move the oil slick away from the coast but that a northwesterly wind could blow the oil towards the coast. The oil initially drifted towards the coast. The wind then changed direction and took it offshore, where the