December 8, 1999: 30,884 metric tons of No. 2 fuel oil was loaded on the Erika, which left the port of Dunkirk for Italy during the evening.
December 11, 1999: When the tanker was well into the Bay of Biscay, the Master noticed that it was listing seriously. The following exchanges took place:
2:08 p.m.: The Master sent a distress call, acknowledged by the Regional Rescue and Surveillance Operational Center (CROSS) in Etel via telex.
2:34 p.m.: The Master gave the vessel’s degree of list and exact position via telex and confirmed that the list was under control, that immediate assistance was not required and that he would continue to assess the situation and prepare a more comprehensive message at a later time.
3:14 p.m.: The Erika indicated to the CROSS via telex that the situation was “under control” and cancelled the distress call.
6:34 p.m.: The Master left a message on Total’s voicemail service saying that he was changing course and would return to the regular route when the weather permitted.
December 12, 1999:
5:54 a.m.: The Master sent a second distress call and requested that his crew be evacuated.
8:08-8:20 a.m.: The tanker broke up.
9:00 a.m.: Total’s crisis unit, comprising in-house teams and experts, was activated.
December 30, 1999: The Atlantic Coast Task Force was set up.
June 1 to September 6, 2000: Fuel oil remaining in the wreck was pumped out.
January 2000 to June 2003: Coastal cleanup and restoration.
2000-2004: Waste collected during coastal cleanup was treated near the Donges refinery.
November 2005: The experts submitted their report into the causes of the Erika sinking to the Dunkirk Commercial Court.
February 2006: The investigation was closed and the case sent for trial in the Paris Criminal Court.
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