A major disaster that alerted all countries to the risks and dangers of oil pollution. On 18 March 1967 the Torrey Canyon (a Liberian oil tanker) went aground 24 kilometres north east of the Scilly Isles liberating her cargo of crude oil. On 24 March 1967 there was a 64 kilometre long oil slick with an average width of 16 kilometres off Lands End. The Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 was passed in order to make oil pollution insurance compulsory for certain tankers.