Golden Drake
On 28 January 1972, the Golden Drake was travelling from Venezuela to the Dutch port of Antwerp when it suffered a violent explosion and went on fire 1,200 miles East of Bermuda.
Two men were killed in the accident, while the rest of the crew were rescued by a Venezuelan vessel. The Golden Drake continued to burn and an attempt to tow the vessel two days later failed.
The tanker drifted for about a month before sinking with its cargo on 1st March 1972, 100 miles south of Azores.
Source:
- HOOKE, Norman, 1997, Maritime Casualties 1963-1996, second edition, LLP Limited, London
Name: Golden Drake
Date: 28 January 1972
Location: Portugal
Accident area: 100 miles south of Azores
Cause of spill: explosion
Type of pollutant: crude oil
Quantity spilled:31,000 tonnes
Ship type: tanker
Date built: 1950
Flag: Liberian
Last update: April 2009