The Moby Prince Disaster: A Maritime Tragedy in Livorno

The night of Wednesday, April 10, 1991, etched itself into Italy's collective memory with an indelible mark of tragedy. In the bustling harbor of Livorno, a significant port city on Tuscany's coast, a catastrophic maritime accident unfolded, becoming known as the Moby Prince disaster. This single event resulted in the profound loss of 140 lives, marking it as the most severe disaster for the Italian merchant navy since the end of World War II. Its devastating impact on human lives and the environment also places it among the two worst environmental catastrophes in Italian history, sharing this somber distinction with the explosion and loss of the tanker Amoco Milford Haven, which occurred on the very next day in an unrelated incident near Voltri.

The Collision and Its Fiery Aftermath

The heart of the disaster lay in a violent collision between two vessels. The MV Moby Prince, a passenger and vehicle ferry operated by Navigazione Arcipelago Maddalenino (NAVARMA) Lines, was departing Livorno when it tragically struck the colossal oil tanker Agip Abruzzo. The impact itself was horrendous, but its immediate consequence was even more devastating: a spark ignited the highly volatile cargo of the Agip Abruzzo, leading to an extensive and inferno-like fire. This inferno rapidly engulfed the Moby Prince, turning the ferry into a burning pyre in the dark waters of the harbor.

A Sole Survivor Amidst Unfathomable Loss

As the flames raged and toxic fumes filled the air, the fate of those aboard the Moby Prince was sealed. Of the 141 individuals – crew and passengers alike – only one person miraculously survived the ordeal. This lone survivor was Alessio Bertrand, a young ship's boy hailing from Naples, whose survival remains a testament to both chance and the sheer terror of that night. The other 140 individuals on board tragically perished, succumbing either to the direct impact of the fire or the inhalation of the deadly toxic fumes that permeated the ship's interiors. The scale of this loss left the entire nation in shock and mourning.

The Lingering Shadow: The Ship's Final Fate

Years after the initial catastrophe, the Moby Prince, by then a charred and haunting hulk, continued to be a focal point of public attention. While impounded in a dock within Leghorn Harbour – Leghorn being the English name for Livorno – the ship's hull eventually succumbed to its long-term damage and sank on May 28, 1998. This event added another layer of complexity to the already intricate and emotionally charged narrative surrounding the disaster. The hull was later refloated from the harbor depths and transported to Turkey, where it was ultimately scrapped, bringing a definitive end to the physical existence of the vessel at the center of this profound Italian tragedy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the Moby Prince disaster?

The Moby Prince disaster was a major maritime accident that occurred in 1991 when the passenger ferry MV Moby Prince collided with the oil tanker Agip Abruzzo, resulting in an extensive fire and the loss of 140 lives.

When and where did the Moby Prince disaster occur?

The disaster took place in the late evening of Wednesday, April 10, 1991, within the harbor of Livorno, Italy.

How many lives were lost in the Moby Prince disaster?

A total of 140 people died in the Moby Prince disaster, succumbing to the fire or toxic fumes. There was only one survivor.

What caused the collision between the Moby Prince and the Agip Abruzzo?

The MV Moby Prince ferry collided with the oil tanker Agip Abruzzo. The impact then sparked an extensive fire that engulfed the ferry.

What happened to the Moby Prince ship after the disaster?

The Moby Prince's hull sank on May 28, 1998, while impounded in Leghorn Harbour. It was subsequently refloated and sent to Turkey to be scrapped.