LIVORNO — 1991 · Major Tragedy
Moby Prince Disaster
At 22:03 on the night of 10 April 1991, the ferry Moby Prince, leaving Livorno for Olbia, struck the oil tanker Agip Abruzzo lying at anchor. Crude oil from the ruptured tank sprayed onto the ferry and ignited. Of the 141 passengers and crew, only one crew member survived; 140 people died. The ferry's mayday went unheard, and in the first hours rescuers concentrated on the tanker. Officially fog was blamed, but witnesses said visibility was clear. At the first trial in 1997 all defendants were acquitted. A 2015–2018 parliamentary commission found that some victims had survived for hours, and a new parliamentary inquiry was opened in 2023.
- Date
- 1991
- Place
- Tuscany, Italy, Livorno, IT
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Under Investigation
- Coordinates
- 43.4833, 10.2667 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 10 April 1991, 22:03The Moby Prince hit the Agip Abruzzo tanker and caught fire; 140 people died.
- October 1997All defendants were acquitted at the first trial.
- 2015–2018A Senate commission found that some victims had survived for hours.
- October 2023The Chamber of Deputies set up a new commission of inquiry.
- February 2025Livorno's prosecutor presented findings on company negligence and rescue failures.
Sources
- Il Sole 24 Ore — Moby Prince: una commissione d'inchiesta ilsole24ore.com ↗
- Il Fatto Quotidiano — Moby Prince (2025) ilfattoquotidiano.it ↗
- Wikipedia — Moby Prince disaster en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Il Sole 24 Ore
- Il Fatto Quotidiano
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.