SS Atlantic Empress

P1

IMO no. 7359975

The Atlantic Empress was a registered in Liberia Greek oil tanker owner. He had a capacity of 292 666 dwt and was 325 m long.

Disaster and destruction

On the way from the Persian Gulf to Beaumont, Texas, with 287,000 tons of crude oil for Mobil Oil on board the ship collided on 19 July 1979 in a storm off Tobago in the Caribbean with the tanker Aegean Captain. There was a fire hazard. The tugs Swartezee, Smit Enterprise, Atlantic and Baltic were arriving, but could not extinguish the fire. The ship was towed about 200 nautical miles. When towing the ship havariierten a quantity of oil was released constantly that burned. After four days of uncontrolled fire, an explosion occurred, the next day another. On 29 July 1979, a further explosion. On 2 August 1979, the ship sank.