Boats / Sailing / Ships

Nov. 11, 1962 - Thirty-Nine Dead In Tokyo Bay Tanker Disaster.. Said to be the worst shipping disaster in Japanese waters - occurred during the week-end when two oil tankers collided in fog - and caught fire. As the Norwegian tanker ''Tharald Brovig'' (34,100 tons) was outward bound for Saudi Arabia through the narrow seaway off Kawasaki City, Tokyo Bay - she was struck by the incoming Japanese vessel ''Munakata Maru'' (3,050 tons) loaded with high octane gasoline - at the same time an oil barge ''Taihei Maru'' (120 tons) was passing 0 and all three vessels were enveloped in flames within minutes.. The Japanese crew was trapped but all the Norwegian crew managed to escape - there were 47 Norwegians - all saved.. All three vessels were badly damaged by fire - and it took scores of fire fighting craft to put out the blaze.. Keystone Photo Shows:- The scene as fire-crews fought the flames - after the mass collision in Tokyo Bay.. The largest vessel is the Norwegian Tanker ''Tharald Brovig' (Credit Image: © Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)