The SS Torrey Canyon was an oil supertanker that gained notoriety for its role in one of the world's first major oil spills. The ship ran aground off the coast of Cornwall, England, in 1967, leading to an environmental disaster. Despite efforts to refloat the vessel and contain the spill, over 100,000 tons of oil were released into the sea, causing extensive damage to marine life and coastal ecosystems. The incident prompted a significant international response and highlighted the risks associated with transporting large quantities of oil by sea. The Torrey Canyon disaster is considered a turning point in maritime history, leading to improved safety regulations and response protocols for oil spills. The ship was eventually broken up for scrap, marking the end of its controversial legacy in maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.