Black Tide
The SS Torrey Canyon Oil Spill
A powerful heritage and screen project retracing the story of the SS Torrey Canyon oil spill through archive, oral history, first-person accounts and film.
The Project
The 60th anniversary approaches of Britain’s worst shipping disaster, the SS Torrey Canyon supertanker, which ran aground off the western coast of Cornwall, spilling 100,000 tonnes of crude oil and making International headlines in 1967.
Over the next two years, Mor Media Charity is set to document the stories of the spill and the clean-up operation that caused enormous damage to marine life, the livelihoods of local people and also changed the way people viewed the environment, galvanising Cornish communities, many of whom are now in their 70s.
Black Tide carries profound significance for everyone, symbolising the ongoing evolution of our understanding of environmental impacts, especially those resulting from oil spills and their consequences on marine life, coastlines, and communities. Acknowledging this legacy enhances environmental awareness and accountability; it connects younger generations, families, and broader communities, emphasising the real and enduring effects of environmental disasters. This historical event calls for united action and responsible stewardship, motivating everyone to engage in creating a sustainable future.
Get involved!
This programme offers a wide range of meaningful opportunities for volunteers to gain hands-on experience in areas such as archives, oral history, historical research, community engagement, wildlife, and working with young people.
In the lead-up to the 60th anniversary of the SS Torrey Canyon disaster in 2027, we are keen to highlight collections held in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that connect to this important moment in environmental history. If you are an archive, museum, or organisation, register your interest.
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Community events
We will be holding various events around Cornwall over the next 12 months.
Come and share your experiences
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The first will be on the Isles of Scilly on Friday, 30th May 12.30- 4.30
at The Garden Pavilion, Church Road
Hugh Town, St Mary’s
Isles of Scilly. TR21 0ND
Our funders & partners
