Kowloon Bridge 
- Name
- Kowloon Bridge
- Accident date
- 22/11/1986
- Location
- Ireland
- Accident area
- off the coast of Cork, Celtic Sea
- Spill area
- Offshore
- Cause of spill
- Grounding
- Quantity transported
- 160,000 tonnes of iron ore
- Nature of pollutant
- bunker fuel
- Quantity spilled
- 1,200 tonnes of bunker fuel
- Ship / structure type
- Bulk carrier
- Built date
- 1973
- Shipyard
- Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Belfast
- Length
- 294.19 m
- Width
- 44.28 m
- Draught
- 25 m
- Flag
- British
- Owner
- Helinger
In November 1986, the bulk carrier the Kowloon Bridge was sailing from Quebec to the River Clyde (Scotland) with a cargo of iron ore.However bad weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean meant that she had to stop in Bantry Bay for damage repairs. Once the repairs were completed, she continued her route. However she lost control during a gale on 22 November 1986 and started drifting. The situation was very alarming.
Two RAF helicopters air-lifted the 28 crew to safety. After a day in heavy seas, the vessel hit the Stagg Rocks, near Baltimore in the south of Ireland. Tugs were unable to prevent the grounding and tow the vessel off the rocks. She broke in 2 parts and sank on 4 December, spilling 1,200 tonnes of bunker fuel at sea. A large number of coves and beaches were badly damaged.
On 4 December, the Kowloon Bridge sank.
The wreck is now a place of interest for divers.
Sources:
- HOOKE, Norman, 1997, Maritime Casualties 1963-1996, second edition, LLP Limited, Londres
External links
Irish Wrecks on line, "A Diver's guide to the Shipwrecks around Ireland"
Aquaventures, Dive Centre
CIIMAR database: fate and weathering of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) involved