THE GROUNDING OF THE IMPERIAL ST. CLAIR A CASE HISTORY OF CONTENDING WITH OIL IN ICE

ABSTRACT During mid-morning on December 23, 1976, the oil products tanker Imperial St. Clair, carrying over 10,400 tons of cargo, grounded in the approaches to Parry Sound. Located on the eastern shores of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, this port is a central depot supplying a large hinterland with petroleum. At the time of grounding, new winter ice was present in varying thicknesses and temperatures and winds varied from day to day, resulting in very difficult conditions in which to effect operations. An estimated 57,000 gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline was lost during the initial impact and later during oil transfer operations. The methods used to boom off the remaining oil through the winter period accounted for almost 40,000 gallons of the remainder. This paper deals with the chronology of events after the grounding, the problems encountered with the safety of personnel, methodology of removal under ice conditions and the logistics of the operation. The result was total success, thus safeguarding one of the most beautiful areas of the Great Lakes.