Independenta Tanker Accident, Burning for 27 Days in Bosphorus

Independenta tanker accident or Independenta disaster, the accident that occurred in the Bosphorus as a result of the collision of a tanker ship loaded with crude oil and a dry cargo ship on 15 November 1979. The ship, named Independenta, loaded with crude oil, is named after the ship because it caused a great fire and environmental disaster that lasted 27 days. 43 ship crew members died in the accident.

Bosphorus in Istanbul Haydarpaşa Port 800 meters in open November 15, 1979 day Turkey clock in the morning hours of 05: 30 in the load from Libya 94,600 tons of crude oil which Romania Romanian tanker ship, flagged Independent, Karadeniz named from the Greek-flagged Evriyal direction it hit the dry cargo ship and there was a big explosion. In the fire that broke out after the explosion, the ship completely burned out and became unusable. The bodies of some of the ship's 43 crew members who died were washed ashore.

714,760 barrels of crude oil burned in the fire that lasted 27 days or went into the sea. Due to the smoke caused by the fire, the rate of harmful particles in the air has increased, threatening human health. According to estimates, 30,000 tons of crude oil burned, the remaining 64,000 tons went into the sea in an area of ​​5,5 kilometers. It is estimated that the mortality rate of living creatures on the sea bottom is 96%. A black layer has formed on the sea surface due to heavy oil pollution.