Jakob Maersk Oil Spill
The Jakob Maersk was a Danish oil tanker that struck a sand bank on January 29, 1975 while entering the port of Leixões, Portugal, causing a major oil spill. Built in 1966, the tanker was owned by Maerskline Navigation Company. She was 261.81 meters long and had a crew of 32.
Jakob Maersk was carrying 88,000 tons of crude oil when she attempted to enter the harbor at Leixões, near Porto, Portugal. She grounded on a sand bank, causing a huge explosion and subsequent fire that burned for days. The explosion broke the ship apart, spilling crude oil into the water. Six crewmen were killed.
Read more about Jakob Maersk Oil Spill: Containment and Cleanup, Ecological Effects
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