The Wreck of the Amoco Cadiz

In 1978 the supertanker "Amoco Cadiz" was wrecked off the coast of Brittany after her steering gear failed. She subsequently broke her back and eventually discharged 220,000 tons of crude oil into the sea. Like the Torrey Canyon and others before her, this was the world's worst such disaster at that time. These two authors carefully point out all relevant factors associated with the carriage of crude oil and skilfully provide a thorough examination of events - before, during and after the tragedy. This includes a copy of the captain's own chart reproduced across 2 pages showing the various positions of the vessel from the moment when the steering gear failed at 0945 hrs to when the ship foundered just over 11 hours later at 2104 hrs. In putting together such a complete work, the authors leave us with several questions which remain unanswered by those who carry dangerous cargoes at sea. On this occasion, the pollution was to the French coast. Until those questions "are" answered, tomorrow that pollution could still be anywhere in the world. NM