Continental Lotus

The incident

On 21 January 1991, the Indian bulk carrier Continental Lotus was travelling from Mormugao (India) to Genova (Italy), when she suffered a crack in her hull in the eastern Mediterranean.

The ship sank 300 km east of Malta Island with its cargo of 51,600 tonnes of iron ore. During this accident, 4 crew members were rescued but 12 were reported missing and 26 died.

In this particular case, the cargo was not a hazard as it was an inert substance. The potential pollutant was the oil used as fuel, stored in the bunker tanks.

Sources:

- IMO/UNEP/MAP/REMPEC, 2004, List of alerts and accidents in the Mediterranean
- BERTRAND Alain R., 2000, Transport maritime et pollution accidentelle par le pétrole, Editions Technip
- OECD, 2001, The cost to users of substandard shipping
- HOOKE Norman, 1997, Maritime casualties 1963-1996, second edition, LLP Limited, Londres
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2002, FSA Study on bulk carrier safety conducted by Japan