
Incident
The South Korean tanker SEA STAR was on voyage from Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when it collided with the Brazilian tanker HORTA BARBOSA in the Gulf of Oman on 19th December 1972, and exploded, killing 12 crew members. Both vessels caught fire but while the HORTA BARBOSA was extinguished within a day, the SEA STAR continued to burn. After a series of explosions, the SEA STAR sank 5 days after the collision. The incident resulted in the spillage of approximately 115,000 tonnes of crude oil.
Selected Bibliography
- Hooke, N. (1997) Maritime casualties, 1963-1996. 2nd edition, LLP Limited, London
- Butler, J.N. (1978) The largest oil spills. Inconsistencies, information gaps. Ocean Industry, October 1978, pp.101-112
Links
Categories: Oman, Oil, Oil Tanker, Asia