A Review of the MS Berge Istra Accident

Abstract

The MS Berge Istra accident, which occurred in January 1976, ranks as one of the most significant maritime disasters of the 1970s. This oil tanker, operated by the Norwegian shipping company Bergesen d.y., was built in 1972 and flagged in Liberia. While on a routine voyage transporting iron ore from Brazil to Japan, tragedy struck. The vessel lost contact in the Pacific Ocean, near the island of Mindanao, on December 30, 1975. After a week without any communication, the vessel was officially declared missing on January 7, 1976. This led to an extensive but ultimately unsuccessful search operation, which was called off on January 16. The incident resulted in the loss of 30 crew members.

The testimonies of the survivors, Imeldo Barreto Le\'{o}n and Epifanio Perdomo L\'{o}pez, who managed to survive for 20 days aboard a liferaft, provide a personal insight into the event. Their accounts describe extreme conditions and the crew's lack of preparedness to handle critical emergency situations. Through a detailed examination of these accounts, alongside historical records and media reports from that time, this paper analyzes the multiple factors contributing to the accident. These include maintenance shortcomings on the vessel as well as inadequate training of the crew in operating critical safety systems.

\noindent The MS Berge Istra accident not only represents an individual tragedy but also exposes the systemic vulnerabilities present in the maritime industry during that era. This study seeks to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors behind this disaster, emphasizing the importance of enhancing safety protocols and crew training in contemporary maritime operations.