Turbine tanker "Mimosa" drifting off Port Elisabeth in July 1991, after steering gear broke. "Hastie" type steering gear (with rams) broke one cylinder due to internal crack in a non-return valve.
Following loss of steering, we were able to secure rudder with chain blocks (the other, non broken cylinder) to hard a port, thus enabling vessel to run dead slow astern in a circle. A storm was raging and the sea punched a hole in no 5 stbd ballast tank (we were fully loaded, some 355K crude), and 340 square meter of the hull was ripped off.
After 12 hours, the storm subsided and then our steering securing also snapped / broke.
Eventually we did get a sea going tug, and we discharged STS to a sister ship before being towed to Dubai for repairs.
It's a poor paper scan, hope it can stay on the site.
Own photo with copyright.