Golden Drake
- Name
- Golden Drake
- Accident date
- 28/01/1972
- Location
- Portugal
- Accident area
- 100 miles south of Azores
- Spill area
- Offshore
- Cause of spill
- Explosion
- Nature of pollutant
- crude oil
- Quantity spilled
- 31, 000 tonnes
- Ship / structure type
- Tanker
- Built date
- 1950
- Flag
- Liberian
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, Londres