Irenes Challenge

On 18 January 1977, the Liberian oil tanker Irenes Challenge left Punta Cardon in Venezuela for Yokkaichi in Japan. The vessel sprung a leak, causing her to break in two in the Pacific Ocean. The two parts of the vessel drifted and sank two days later, after 28 of the 31 crew members had been saved from one section of the wreck and the 3 remaining members from the other section.

34,000 tonnes of oil, i.e. 250,000 barrels, were spilled during the incident, causing significant pollution. An estimated 70 miles of coastline was affected.