SS Torrey Canyon

SS Torrey Canyon was a supertanker that was one of the world's earliest and most notorious maritime oil spill disasters. The ship was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia, United States, and was launched in 1959. It was owned by Barracuda Tanker Corporation, a subsidiary of Union Oil Company of California, and was registered in Liberia.

History

The SS Torrey Canyon was originally built to carry a cargo of 60,000 tons but was later enlarged in Japan to a capacity of 120,000 tons. The ship was 974.4 feet (297.0 m) long, 125.4 feet (38.2 m) wide, and 68.7 feet (20.9 m) in depth.

The Disaster

On March 18, 1967, while under the command of Captain Pastrengo Rugiati, the SS Torrey Canyon ran aground on Pollard's Rock in the Seven Stones Reef between the Cornish mainland and the Scillies. The ship was carrying a full load of crude oil from Kuwait to a refinery in Wales. The grounding resulted in the rupture of the ship's hull and the release of an estimated 25-36 million gallons of oil into the sea.

The oil spill from the SS Torrey Canyon had a devastating impact on the marine and coastal environment of Cornwall and the Scillies. The spill killed tens of thousands of birds and marine animals, and caused extensive damage to the local fishing and tourism industries.

Aftermath and Legacy

The SS Torrey Canyon disaster led to significant changes in international maritime law and oil spill response strategies. It highlighted the need for better ship design, improved navigation systems, and more effective measures to protect the marine environment from oil spills.

The wreck of the SS Torrey Canyon was broken up by the Royal Navy using explosives, and the remaining oil was set on fire in an attempt to reduce the environmental impact. The wreck site is now a popular dive site.

See Also

• List of oil spills
• Maritime disasters
• Environmental disasters