Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Three crew dead after British tanker EASTGATE and French ship CIRCEA collide near Hong Kong

   Three crewmen from the London registered tanker EASTGATE were killed and 31 others were injured when fire broke out after the ship collided in fog with the French cargo ship CIRCEA on the approach to Hong Kong Harbour.

   The incident happened about 0240 today when EASTGATE was inbound to Hong Kong with a full cargo of oil from Pulau Bukom, a small island just south of Singapore, and she was severely damaged with a very large hole extending from the port side just forward of the amidships bridge structure and extending almost to the centre line of the ship where the bow of CIRCEA ploughed into her.   The French ship was departing from Hong Kong with general cargo for Taiwan.  

   A spokesman for the Hong Kong Government said that 13 of the injured crew from EASTGATE were being detained in Hospital in Hong Kong.   None of the crew of CIRCEA were injured.

   The owners of EASTGATE, Turnbull Scott Shipping Co. Ltd. of London named the dead men as J. McDermort, married of Watford, Herts, J. Richards, single, second steward of Stevenage, Herts, and A. Vizins, single, a seaman of Malmo, Sweden.

BLAZING OIL AROUND THE TANKER

   Oil in the EASTGATE’s ruptured tanks immediately caught fire and poured from the ship into the water, much of which became covered with blazing oil.

   The tanker’s crew, responding to the abandon ship signal, took to the lifeboats or jumped into the blazing sea.

   Hong Kong Police Launches and Fire Boats attended within minutes and they, and local fishing boats and passing Chinese junks rescued the men and took them to Hong Kong Harbour where waiting ambulances conveyed them to Hospital.

   Crewmen who were not injured and those who were discharged after treatment in Hospital were accommodated in a Hong Kong Hotel.

   The CIRCEA, having assisted in the rescue operation, returned to Harbour to have her damage inspected.

Further information

   EASTGATE built in 1957 and of 11,907 gross tons and of the same style of Shell Tankers "H" and "K" series of 1950's was severely damaged both by the collision and the ensuing fire and was towed in to Hong Kong Harbour.   Despite the damage she was sold, apparently for further trading, but a few months later was delivered to shipbreakers for demolition.

   CIRCEA, registered in Dunkerque, a 172.4m long 7,832 gross ton general cargo ship was built in 1963 and owned by Cie. Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis, Verdon, France, was repaired and was sold in 1976, eventually being broken up in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1986