Heritage Project Launched to Mark 60th Anniversary of SS Torrey Canyon Oil Spill

New heritage project launches ahead of 60th anniversary of the SS Torrey Canyon disaster

A major new project exploring one of the world’s worst oil spills is gaining momentum in Cornwall, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the SS Torrey Canyon disaster.

Exploring the legacy of disaster

Mor Media, the charity behind the Cornwall Film Festival, has announced the development of Black Tide: The SS Torrey Canyon Oil Spill, a new heritage and engagement project examining the environmental and human legacy of the 1967 disaster.

On 18th March 1967, the SS Torrey Canyon ran aground between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly due to a navigational error. It released 100,000 tonnes of crude oil into Cornish waters, spreading over hundreds of miles of British coastline and reaching as far as Brittany in France.

The government’s response shocked many. As the ship began to break up, Royal Navy vessels sprayed 800,000 gallons of detergent across the sea and beaches, including at Sennen Cove. Locals expressed concern about the toxic impact, but the government prioritised cleaning up the beaches for the holiday season. The chemicals caused serious environmental damage, compounding the effects of the oil.

Roughly 30,000 birds, mainly guillemots and razorbills, were killed. The oil slick, covering 270 square miles, also devastated marine life. One witness described the surreal scene: “The sound of the surf was muffled and muted, and the smell stung your throat and nostrils, and the birds, and the people, were strangely silent.”

At RNAS Culdrose, then Prime Minister Harold Wilson held a mini-cabinet meeting where it was decided to bomb the vessel and set fire to the oil. Out of 171 bombs dropped, 42 missed the stationary ship.

A new way to tell the story

Black Tide aims to connect generations through storytelling, digital resources and community engagement. Planned activities include public events across Cornwall, a short film, a touring audio-visual piece, and a web-based interactive tool. There will also be a broadcast platform for oral stories, alongside digitisation and cataloguing of archive material.

Louise Fox, Director of Mor Media, said:
“Black Tide is not only a story of environmental disaster — it’s a story of people, community resilience, and how past events shape our future. We are incredibly grateful for the early support and encouragement we’ve received. It demonstrates the real appetite for shared, accessible, and reflective storytelling across Cornwall and beyond.”

How to get involved

The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Cornwall Community Foundation, BFI Film Audience Network, Seedle Collins Foundation, and the Thomas Wall Trust. Key partners include Kresen Kernow, Archives & Special Collections Services at Falmouth University, and the University of Exeter in Cornwall.

Mor Media is inviting the public to get involved through volunteering. Opportunities include working in archives, gathering oral histories, engaging with the community, historical research, wildlife-related tasks, and supporting young people.

To find out more and get involved, visit https://www.mormediacharity.org/getinvolvedss-torrey-ca

Community open day this month

A Community Open Day will take place at Morrab Library, Morrab Road, Penzance, TR18 4DA on Saturday 19th July from 10am to 12 noon. Anyone with memories or experiences of the disaster is invited to come along and share their stories.

Mor Media will be holding various events across Cornwall over the next 12 months.