History and mysteries · Paulsboro, Delaware River and Salem
Athos I: an unseen anchor and a safe-berth promise (2004)
Documented history · Sources compared
An abandoned anchor in the Delaware River produced an environmental emergency and a Supreme Court dispute over a shipping contract.
Damage below the waterline
On November 26, 2004, Athos I struck a submerged anchor while approaching the refinery at Paulsboro. Its punctured hull released more than 263,000 gallons of crude oil, according to NOAA. The spill affected shorelines across four states.
Some oil sank below the surface, complicating cleanup. Oil near cooling-water intakes prompted a precautionary shutdown at Salem’s nuclear plant. NOAA’s account connects the visible shoreline damage with a less visible hazard in the river’s sediment. NOAA’s response account.
What the court decided
In March 2020, the Supreme Court held that the particular safe-berth clause in the shipping agreement was a warranty of safety. The charterer’s obligation was not limited to exercising reasonable care when choosing the berth.
That contractual conclusion should be distinguished from identifying who originally abandoned the anchor. The decision settled the meaning of the parties’ promise; it was not a finding that the charterer had placed the obstruction in the river. The Court’s opinion.
Sources and research limits
NOAA, Athos I response and restoration account. Supreme Court, CITGO v. Frescati, March 30, 2020, case background and holding. The opinion rounds the spill to 264,000 gallons.