World War IIMT Kongsgaard
In June 1941, the MT Kongsgaard was fortunate to reach Belfast, after the ship was struck by a torpedo and then underwent repairs. The ship set sail again. This time, the ship was on a journey from Porto la Cruz, Venezuela, to Curacao carrying 15600-ton light crude oil. On the 21st of February 1942, the ship was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-502 seven nautical miles west of West Point, Curacao. The oil cargo lit and the flames rose high to the sky above the aft and over the surface of the ocean. The people on the aft had little chance of survival, but they managed to stop the engine. A dinghy was thrown overboard and two men attempted to use it to save themselves. But the burning oil caught up to the immediately. Kongsgaard had not sunk and the people on the amidships managed to lower a lifeboat down clear from the flames. They managed to save a man from the sea. The seven on board rowed for their lives against headwind. Three hours later, they were taken in by a fishing boat coming from land. They also found a man from the aft that had managed to swim through the flames till he reached open water. On the night of 22nd of February 1942, the vessel sunk. 37 crew members perished in the sinking.
About MT Kongsgaard
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1937
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Wrecked
21.02.1942
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Carrier
A. Gowart Olsen, Stavanger
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Tonnage
15000 dvt
