| Comments | Off the coast of Newfoundland, February 14-15, 1982. The ocean-drilling rig "Ocean Ranger" overturned and sank during an intense snowstorm with winds in excess of 100 km/h off the east coast of Newfoundland: most lifeboats crashed into the pillars of the rig and sank or were flipped over by the waves. There were no "survival suits". When the supply ship got to the scene, less than an hour after being dispatched, only one lifeboat was found afloat with living people inside: the lifeboat slowly rolled over, eventually killing all inside: 84 died: the severe storm also caused the "Mechanic Tarasov" to sink with the loss of 33 lives. |