Lake Maracaibo

Lake Maracaibo is a large body of water in northwestern Venezuela. If considered a lake, it is the largest lake in South America. However, by some definitions it should be considered a sea because it is connected by way of a 54-km (34-mile) strait to the Gulf of Venezuela, and thence to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In that case, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America.

Collision of 1964

On April 6, 1964, at 11:45 pm, the supertanker Esso Maracaibo, loaded with 236,000 barrels of crude oil hit pier # 31 of the 2-year-old General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge that connects Maracaibo with much of the rest of Venezuela.

Related Topics:
April 6 - 1964 - Supertanker - Esso Maracaibo - Crude oil - General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge

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While navigating the canal, after having been loaded with crude, the vessel lost steering due to a major electrical failure onboard. The collision with the bridge structure followed within a few minutes.

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A 259-meter section of the bridge roadway fell into the water with a portion coming to rest across the tanker just a few feet from the ship's superstructure. Four vehicles drove off into the void left by the collapsed sections and seven lives in the vehicles were lost.

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Amazingly, there was no loss of life or serious injury on the tanker, and no explosion or fire. No oil spill occurred.

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