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Behavior of Oil

Both Arabian Light and Iranian Light crude oil are medium weight oils with an
API gravity of 33.8.  Bunker C is a heavy product with an API of between 7 and
14.  A 12-mile long slick and heavy pools of oil were smeared onto 45 miles of
the French shoreline by northwesterly winds.  Prevailing westerly winds during
the following month spread the oil approximately 100 miles east along the coast.
 One week after the accident, oil had reached Cotes de Nord.

Oil penetrated the sand on several beaches to a depth of 20 inches.  Sub-surface
oil separated into two or three layers due to the extensive sand transfer that
occurred on the beaches during rough weather.  Piers and slips in the small
harbors from Porspoder to Brehat Island were covered with oil.  Other impacted
areas included the pink granite rock beaches of Tregastel and Perros-Guirrec, as
well as the tourist beaches at Plougasnou.  The total extent of oiling one month
after the spill included approximately 200 miles of coastline.

Oil persisted for only a few weeks along the exposed rocky shores that
experienced moderate to high wave action.  In the areas sheltered from wave
action, however, the oil persisted in the form of an asphalt crust for several
years.