M.T. Angel Gabriel
After sailing from Swansea, with a 10,000 t cargo of fuel oil, bound for Tranmere and Eastham on the the Mersey, once clear of the piers the tugs were released. Shortly afterwards the vessel developed a steering malfunction and the vessel drifted on to the West Bank of the fairway, and grounded. The following tide 7 tugs attempted to refloat the vessel, but to no avail. A decision was made was to offload some of the cargo onto a smaller vessel to reduce the draft. On Thursday January 2nd, once again with the assistance of 7 tugs, the vessel was successfully refloated and proceeded on passage.
Built in 1953 by Sir. J. Laing & Sons Ltd., Sunderland as the “Alva Star” for the Alva Steamship Company Ltd.
While on passage from Venice to Malta, the vessel encountered hurricane force winds and anchored off Marsascala in Malta. Due to the severity of the winds, the anchor cables parted and the Angel Gabriel was driven ashore on to a rocky outcrop and broke in two. Unfortunately one life was lost.
