Wracks No. 1
by © Corbis. All Rights Reserved. - © Skyscan/Corbis
Tanker Torrey Canyon on Fire
18 Mar 1967, Cornwall, England, UK --- Supertanker Torrey Canyon engulfed in flames and smoke after running aground between the Isles of Scilly and Land's End, Cornwall, England carrying 117,000 tons of crude oil. En route to England from the Persian Gulf, the ship was stranded by an error in ship maneuvering. About 93,000KL of crude oil loaded on the ship flowed out, and contaminated a total area of about 300km along the southwestern coastline of England and along the northwestern coastline of France. After a failed salvage attempt the ship was eventually destroyed by the Royal Air Force in order to stop the outflow of the remaining 20,000 tons of crude oil. --- Image by © Skyscan/Corbis