Yuyo Maru N°10/Pacific Alice

On 9 November 1974, during its journey from Saudi Arabia to Kawasaki (Japan), the Japanese gas carrier Yuyo Maru N°10 collided with the Pacific Alice in Tokyo Bay. Loaded with propane, butane and naphtha, the gas carrier suffered a large hole at the point of collision. Due to the accident, the naphtha instantly burst into flames and as a result of the outflow of cargo overboard, the sea surface turned into a sea of fire. Then, the Pacific Alice showered with fire burst into flames in the forecastle and on the bridge.

While successive naphtha explosions occurred, attempts were made to tow the Yuyo Maru N°10 out of Tokyo Bay. In the afternoon of 27 November, the gas carrier was sunk south of Nojima Saki by air bomb and torpedo attacks.

On board the Yuyo Maru N°10, five crew members were killed and seven others injured by this accident. The Pacific Ares sailors were all killed except one person, who was injured but rescued.

Sources :

- Bonn Agreement, 1999, Chemical spills at sea: case studies, BONN 99/3/6-E

- Galerne Project, 2007, Transport and definition of accident scenarios