1.
GV Yugoslav tanker burning
0.05

2.
LV DITTO
0.08

3.
SLV DITTO
0.14

4.
GV DITTO
0.16

5.
LV Burned out Greek tanker
0.20

6.
CU Stern
0.24

7.
LV Greek tanker
0.29

8.
GV 'SS TARSUS' smoulders
0.33

9.
LV DITTO
0.38

10.
CU DITTO
0.40

11.
LV DITTO
0.44

12.
GV DITTO
0.47



Initials TDH/S/MR/CW/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: At least 53 seamen are missing and presumed lost in a shattering explosion which followed the collision of two oil tankers - one Greek, the other Yugoslavian - in the Bosphorous off Istanbul, Turkey, Dec 14.

Tons of flaming oil from 25,000-ton Yugoslav tanker 'Peter Zoranic' spread to the empty 9,345-ton Turkish passenger ship 'Tarsus' lying at anchor nearby, and soon both ships were fiery infernos. Seamen were seen silhouetted against the flames as they dived into the icy waters.

A marine fire brigade pulled the blazing tankers apart and prevented the fire from spreading to a shore petroleum depot.

The collision occurred in the early hours as the 'Peter Zoranic' was making for Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of Russian oil taken on at a Black Sea port. She struck the empty Greek tanker 'World Harmony' who was heading from the Dardanelles ion her way to the Black Sea.

Still blazing some twenty-hours after the collision, both tankers drifted helplessly in the treacherous currents, and finally went aground on the Asian shore.