MV REIJIN Car Carrier sank 1988

Reijin was a Panamanian car carrier that capsized off Porto, Portugal, in April 1988 on her maiden voyage. The ship was later scuttled in deep water despite the protests of ecologists.

Reijin was built in 1987 by the Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co, Japan. Owner  Nissan Prince Kaiun

Operator: Emerald Shipholding Panama.     
 
The ship was 199 metres OA    Beam of 32 metres     Tonnage 58,123 Gross,  17,469 DW
 
Powered by a diesel engine driving a single screw propeller.

On 26 April 1988, on her maiden voyage, from Japan to Ireland, carrying a cargo of 5,432 cars she ran aground and capsized off Porto, Portugal. One crew member was killed.

It was decided that two-thirds of the cars were to be dumped in water in excess of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) deep, followed by the sinking of the ship in waters of a similar depth.

Although the dumping of the cars was started, it was not completed as such action was in violation of the London Dumping Convention, due to the plastics contained in the cars.

Reijin was sunk in deep water.

Source: Wikipedia