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MT Sitakund

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Name
  
Sitakund

Status
  
Scrapped

Beam
  
23.53 m (77 ft)

Length
  
184 m

Builder
  
Eriksbergs

Owner
  
Tschudi & Eitzen

Type
  
Tanker

Launched
  
1951

Draft
  
13 m

Fate
  
Ran aground & exploded 20 October 1968

Similar
  
Loss of MV Darlwyne, Marchioness disaster, Penlee lifeboat disaster
New biz up north page 19 Enthusiastic clients page 20 Highlights from a 130  year history page 21

Sitakund was a Norwegian motor oil tanker owned by Tschudi & Eitzen was sailing from Wilhelmshaven to Libya on 20 October 1968, when three explosions occurred, one of which tore a large hole in the side of the vessel. Sitakund burst into flames. Three crew members died in the explosion and subsequent fire, while the remaining 31 crew were treated in hospital for burns.

The Sitakund had run aground, requiring that the tug Meeching come on site for rescue operations. She was beached on 21 October less than 2 km from Beachy Head. The Eastbourne Fire Brigade, the crew of the Meeching and that of another tug from Dover fought the fire, however there was another explosion during the night, prompting the decision to leave the vessel to burn herself out. The insurers of the ship declared her a constructive total loss. She was later sent to Spain for scrapping.

Around 500 tonnes of bunker oil and ballast were released in the incident.

References

MT Sitakund Wikipedia


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