Grape One

On 9 December 1993, the chemical tanker Grape One was sailing off the coast of Devon from the Tees to Haifa. She was loaded with 3,000 tonnes of xylene, a weak but highly flammable pollutant, which is often composed of three isomers.

The meteorological conditions were particularly bad that day. A ballast tank ruptured creating a 40 degree list. The crew (13 Filipinos and 2 Italians) were rescued and air-lifted by helicopter. They were send to hospital in Plymouth.

The Grape One sank with her cargo. No further response was implemented and how much of the cargo was spilled remains unknown.

Source:

- HOOKE, Norman, 1997, Maritime Casualties 1963-1996, second edition, LLP Limited, Londres