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At
the moment the whole world relies on oil
tankers to ferry liquid energy from producing
countries to user countries - without which the world economy
would collapse. But, the risk to marines life from collision
is unacceptable and just lately there have been far too
many accidents - the result of human error.
What
is being done about this? Not much we're afraid.
Government organisations such as the International
Maritime Organisation cannot direct ship operators
to stop having accidents - which are in any event
typically human errors.
The
only glimmer of hope on the horizon is from a small
English company called Max
Energy Limited, who are forming a consortium to
develop an autonomous navigation system, to be able to
take humans
out of the loop - eventually, to prevent collisions.
Meantime, be careful.
TORREY
CANYON
The Torrey Canyon was a supertanker capable of carrying a cargo of 120,000 tons of crude oil, which was shipwrecked off the western coast of Cornwall, England in March 1967, causing an environmental disaster. At that time, the tanker was the largest vessel ever to be wrecked.
When laid down in the United States in 1959, it had a capacity of 60,000 tons but the ship was enlarged in Japan to 120,000 tons capacity. At the time of the accident, it was registered in
Liberia and owned by Barracuda Tanker Corporation, a subsidiary of Union Oil Company of California but chartered to
British
Petroleum. It was 974.4 feet (297.0 m) long, 125.4 feet (38.2 m) beam and 68.7 feet (20.9 m) draught.
Accident and oil spill
The ship left the Kuwait National Petroleum Company refinery at Mina al-Ahmadi on its final voyage on 19 February 1967 with full cargo of crude
oil, reaching the Canary Islands by 14 March. From there the planned route was to Milford Haven.
On 18 March 1967, owing to a navigational error, the Torrey Canyon struck Pollard's Rock on Seven Stones reef between the Cornish mainland and the Scilly Isles. An inquiry in Liberia, where the ship was registered, found Shipmaster Pastrengo Rugiati was to blame, because he took a shortcut to save time in getting to Milford Haven.
On 28 March 1967, the Fleet Air Arm sent Blackburn Buccaneer planes from RNAS Lossiemouth to drop forty-two 1,000 lb bombs on the ship. Then, the
Royal Air Force sent
Hawker Hunter jets from RAF Chivenor to drop cans of aviation fuel to make the oil blaze. However, exceptionally high tides put the fire out and it took further attacks by Sea Vixens from the RNAS Yeovilton and Buccaneers from the Naval Air Station at Brawdy, as well as more RAF Hunters with liquified petroleum jelly (not napalm, as HMG denied that the UK forces had stocks of napalm), to ignite the oil. Attempts to use foam booms to contain the oil were of limited success due to their fragility in high seas. Bombing continued into the next day before the Torrey Canyon finally sank.
The wreck now lies at a depth of 30 metres (98 ft).
References in popular culture
Serge Gainsbourg composed and recorded a song about the incident called "Torrey Canyon".
The progressive rock band Genesis composed and recorded a song related to the incident called "Seven Stones". It was released 1971 on the album Nursery Cryme.
In a 2005 episode of Top
Gear, Jeremy Clarkson referred to James May's Jaguar XJS as "The Torrey Canyon" in reference to a catastrophic oil leak. He continued the joke by referring to it later as the Exxon Valdez.
In episode 6 of series 13 of Heartbeat, "The Holiday's Over", Vernon Scripps lost all his money after joining a syndicate to insure the ship for its journey to the UK.
Marine
& Boat Insurance Providers Table
|
Company
|
Type
of Insurance
|
Website
|
|
24
hour dinghy insurance
|
Dinghy
& Sailboard Insurance Immediate insurance
premiums displayed by clicking onto the class
of craft.
|
24
hour dinghy insurance
|
|
ABG
|
We've
teamed up with Boatinsure.co.uk to provide our
clients with a competitive online marine
quote: DINGHY, SPEED BOAT, SMALL YACHT, CABIN
CRUISER.
|
ABG
|
|
Affinity
Insurance Brokers
|
Official
Brokers to the Irish Sailing Association.
Affinity Insurance Brokers, the premier source
for insurance coverage and risk management
advice for Ireland's sailing and fishing
communities.
|
Affinity
|
|
Amilcroft
|
Cargo
INSURANCE. Take advantage of capacity and
services through the London market and other
specialist insurers. Our arrangements include
insurers able to write surplus lines in most
of North America.
|
Amilcroft
|
|
Arden
Insurance
|
Arden
Insurance Services are able to arrange cover
on all craft from the smallest of dinghies to
the largest ocean going vessels. Discounts are
also available for: RYA Qualifications, Policy
excesses up to 1,000GBP, Craft in Marina
Berths, Craft with alarms. Many of our
standard policies include: Third Party
Liability up to 2,000,000GBP, 12 Months in
commission cover, Underwater Machinery Damage,
Protected No Claims Bonus, Road Transit Cover,
Legal Protection Cover.
|
Arden
Insurance
|
|
Edwards
& Associates
|
We
offer marine insurance to cover pleasure boats
such as yachts and cabin cruisers, as well as
larger private boats. Whether you are looking
for personal or commercial marine insurance,
we have a large base of insurers who we use to
make sure that you get the best possible deal:
Personal and Commercial Marine Insurance.
|
Edwards
& Associates
|
|
BC-Marine
Inurance
|
Set
the right course to solve your Marine
Insurance Requirements. Marine Craft
Insurance, Legal Protection, Foreign Travel,
Boat SalesAccident & Medical, Loss Of
Earnings, Marine Finance, Marine Tradesmen,
Crew Liability, Instalment Plans, Boat
Builders & Repairers, Public Liability,
Recovery & Assistance, Product Liability.
UK, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & the EU.
|
BC-Marine
Inurance
|
|
Bishops
|
We
have particular expertise in the following:
International Marine, Cargo, Inland Goods in
Transit, Hauliers Liability, Freight
Forwarders Liability.
|
Bishops
plc
|
|
Alfred
Blackmore
|
Alfred
Blackmore Group Ltd UK insurance broker
specialising in bloodstock, classic car,
construction, financial services, healthcare,
international motor, marine, professional
indemnity, reinsurance and special accident.
|
Alfred
Blackmore
|
|
Blythin
& Brown
|
Loughborough
brokers provide online quotes for marine
insurance, and also offer a full range of
financial advice.
|
Blythin
& Brown
|
|
Boatinsure
|
Marine
insurance underwritten by Lloyd's of London.
Discover what is covered by the policies, read
the FAQs, get an online quote or claim online.
|
Boatinsure
|
|
Business.Insurance-Site.co.uk
|
Covers
most commercial risks in the following
industries: manufacture, motor trade, haulage
supply, farms, shops, offices, clubs, pubs,
hotels and marine (ONLINE APPLICATION FORM).
|
Business.Insurance-Site.co.uk
|
|
Craftinsure
|
German
marine insurer provides boat-insurance
services throughout Europe. Select a boat
type, get a quick quote, and track a claim.
20% internet purchase discount.
|
Craftinsure
|
|
Newton
Crum
|
Dinghy
- Narrowboat - Motorboat - Sailboard- Yacht -
Marine Insurance. FREE INSURANCE QUOTATIONS no
charge or obligation. Dinghy Insurance,
Sailboard Insurance, Inland Waterways
Insurance, Yacht - Motorboat - Speedboat
Insurance, Stolen Boat List.
|
Newton
Crum
|
|
Engine
Breakdown Cover Ltd.
|
Offers
unique insurance policies for marine in-board
engines.
|
Engine
Breakdown Cover
|
|
Fairmont
Insurance Services
|
Super
Yacht Insurance for yachts in excess of $1
Million to over $125 Million. Coverage
includes Liability, Loss of Charter, and Crew
Personal Accident and Medical.
|
Fairmontinsure
|
|
Lucas
Fettes & Partners
|
Marine
Insurance: Hull and accessories of a vessel,
passengers and worldwide cargo movements.
|
Lucas
Fettes
|
|
Navigators
and General
|
Navigators
and General has been at the forefront of yacht
and motorboat insurance since 1921 and has
been the market leader in this field for over
70 years. Navigators & General is part of
the Zurich Financial Services Group and
Financial Ombudsman Service, providing
policyholders with world-class security.
Today, Navigators provides cover for vessels
with a total value in excess of £750,000,000.
Underwriting insurance for all types of
leisure craft, from dinghies to £5,000,000
vessels, has provided us with the breadth of
experience to understand even the most
individual requirements.
|
Navigators
and General
|
|
Giles
Insurance Brokers
|
Marine
Insurance. Dinghy, Power Boat, Yacht, Cabin
Cruiser, Jet Ski, Charter Boat, Commercial
Fishing Boat, Yacht Yard
|
Giles
Insurance Brokers
|
|
SHW
Group
|
Marine
Cargo Insurance. Cover is arranged with
specialist insurers and the individual
policies are written to suit your business
requirements including if required Warehousing
for distribution during export or import.
|
SHW
Group
|
|
LONHAM
GROUP LTD
|
Freight
legal liability for both UK and international
domiciled companies. Freight legal liability
insurance, Cargo insurance, Charterer's
Liability insurance. Delegated authority to
deal with claims matters relating to marine
insurance.
|
Lonham
Group
|
|
Mardon
Marine Insurance Brokers
|
boat-insurance.co.uk
and yacht-insurance.co.uk are the websites of
Mardon Marine and maritime Underwriting
Agencies Ltd. (Including Maritime Underwriting
Agencies Ltd)
|
Mardon
Marine
|
|
Noble
Marine
|
Noble
Marine are specialist insurance brokers
dealing with all classes Yacht insurance,
rowing insurance, laser class, dinghy
insurance, sailboard insurance.
|
Noble
Marine
|
|
Rob,
Perry Marine
|
Need
Insurance? We are agents for one of the most
competitive insurance brokers in the country
who specialise in marine insurance.
|
Rob,
Perry Marine
|
|
Pendleton
May
|
We
operate a scheme for the insurance of yachts,
motor boats and small craft. Our expertise,
experience and number of clients insuring
their boats enables us to provide you with
wide cover at competitive cost. Try us by
completing our form.
|
Pendleton
May
|
|
Terra
Nova
|
Terra
Nova Protection & Indemnity provides fixed
premium P&I cover for the Owner / Manager
/ Charterers of commercial ships operating in
domestic, coastwise or short-sea trades.
|
Terra
Nova
|
|
Oban
Insurance Centre
|
Read
about the insurance schemes covering marine,
holidays, business, motoring and agriculture.
Offers an online quote system.
|
Oban
Insurance
|
|
B
Portwood & Co.Ltd
|
Marine
and boat insurance. On-line insurance rates
are provided for dinghies, canoes, sailboards,
small craft, inflatables, speedboats, yachts
and motorboats for use in the uk and in
Western Europe for up to 60 days.
|
Portwood
|
|
Alexander
Brooks & Stevens Ltd
|
Marine
Insurance providers
|
Alexander
Brooks & Stevens
|
|
Graham
Sykes Insurance
|
Graham
Sykes Insurance insure a variety of boats. Our
polices cover you for use on inland and costal
waterways between May and September. Smaller
craft usually have to be laid up ashore over
the winter months. For larger vessels we can
provide cover for them all year round. For the
water skiers out there we can usually extend
your policy to include liability for towing
water skiers.
|
Graham
Sykes
|
|
Craig
& Suttar
|
In
most cases we can provide all risks cover
including third party liability for you and
your craft. Polices cover you for use on
inland and costal waterways between May and
September. For the waterskiers out there we
can usually extend your policy to include
liability for towing waterskiers. In some case
we can add your boat onto your house contents
insurance which is sometimes cheaper.
|
Craig
& Suttar
|
|
Tyser
(UK) Ltd
|
Marine
and boat Insurance
|
Tyser
(UK) Ltd
|
|
Yachtsman
Marine Insurance Ireland
|
Yachtsman
Marine Insurance Ireland. Sports boats, Yacht
cruisers, motor cruisers. We offer yachtsmen
an exceptional insurance package at a highly
competitive price. We are constantly reviewing
our policy wording to provide the most up to
date terms and conditions to ensure that our
clients have the most appropriate cover.
|
Yachtsman
Insurance
|
Fleet
operators might reduce insurance costs if their ships have
autonomous
capability for collision
avoidance.
|