Sea Star (tanker)
Encyclopedia
Sea Star was a supertanker
that spilled some 115,000 tons of crude oil into the Gulf of Oman
on December 19, 1972, after colliding with the Brazil
ian tanker Horta Barbosa. After the collision both vessels caught fire and were abandoned by their crews. Recovery of Sea Star was attempted before the fires on board were extinguished, but following several explosions the vessel sank into the Persian Gulf
on December 24.
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
that spilled some 115,000 tons of crude oil into the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
on December 19, 1972, after colliding with the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian tanker Horta Barbosa. After the collision both vessels caught fire and were abandoned by their crews. Recovery of Sea Star was attempted before the fires on board were extinguished, but following several explosions the vessel sank into the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on December 24.