MV Braer
| History | |
|---|---|
 Liberia
|
|
| Name: | Braer |
| Owner: | Braer Corporation |
| Operator: | Canadian Ultramar Ltd |
| Builder: | Oshima Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Nagasaki, Japan |
| Launched: | 1975 |
| Homeport: |
Monrovia,  Liberia
|
| Fate: | Ran aground near Quendale, Shetland, Scotland, in 1993 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Oil tanker |
| Tonnage: | 89,730 DWT |
| Length: | 241.51 m |
| Draft: | 14.15 m |
| Installed power: | Sumitomo-Sulzer 7RND90 (20,300 bhp) |
| Propulsion: | Single shaft; fixed pitch propeller |
| Speed: | 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) |
| Crew: | 29 (on last voyage) |
The MV Braer was an oil tanker which ran aground during a storm off Shetland, Scotland, in January 1993, and nearly a week later broke up during the most intense extratropical cyclone on record for the northern Atlantic ocean.
During the enquiry after the ship's loss, it was stated that the ship lost power due to seawater contamination of the ship's diesel fuel oil on 3 January. This occurred after a pipeline on the deck broke loose, allowing seawater to enter the engine. The loss of power caused the crew to lose control of the ship during a storm.
At 05.19 hrs on Tuesday 5 January 1993, Lerwick coastguard were advised that the tanker, Braer, en route from Bergen, Norway to Quebec, Canada, laden with 85,000 tonnes of Norwegian Gullfaks crude oil, had lost engine power but was in no immediate danger. Her estimated position then was 10 miles (19 km) south of Sumburgh Head and she was drifting in predominantly southwesterly winds of force 10–11. The coastguard alerted rescue helicopters from Sumburgh and RAF Lossiemouth, and made enquiries about the availability of local tugs. At the Coast Guard's suggestion, the master agreed that non-essential personnel should be removed from the vessel—14 of the 34 crew were taken off by the coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh at 08:25.
At 08:50 it was feared that the ship would founder near Horse Island, and the experience of Aegean Sea which burst into flames shortly after grounding led the coastguard to persuade the Greek Captain Alexandros S. Gkelis to abandon ship. However, because of strong northwest local currents, Braer moved against the prevailing wind and missed Horse Island, drifting towards Quendale Bay.
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Wikipedia