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National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Explosion and Fire on Board the U.S. Tankship OMI Charger at Galveston, Texas, October 9, 1993.

PB94916404

Publication Date	1994
Page Count	62
Abstract	On October 9, 1993, an explosion occurred on board the 660-foot-long U.S. tankship OMI CHARGER, which was anchored in Bolivar Roads near Galveston, Texas. At the time of the explosion, a welder, who was making repairs to stop a small leak in the bulkhead, burned through the bulkhead, initiating an explosion in the No. 5 port cargo tank. The welder, the firewatch, and the vessel's pumpman were killed by the explosion. The vessel, valued at $12 million, was declared a constructive total loss. The safety issues discussed in the report include preparation of tanks for welding on board the OMI CHARGER; management oversight of tank vessel gas-freeing procedures; fire and disaster preparedness in the Galveston area; and timeliness of toxicological testing.
Keywords	Accident investigations Marine accidents Gas explosions Tanker ships Explosions Fires Gasoline vapors Welding Leaks Fatalities Injuries Human factors Recommendations Texas Procedures Tank washing Gas-freeing Galveston(Texas) OMI CHARGER tankship Bolivar Roads
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85D - Transportation Safety 85G - Marine & Waterway Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199508

National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Explosion and Fire on Board the U.S. Tankship OMI Charger at Galveston, Texas, October 9, 1993.

National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Explosion and Fire on Board the U.S. Tankship OMI Charger at Galveston, Texas, October 9, 1993.
PB94916404

Publication Date	1994
Page Count	62
Abstract	On October 9, 1993, an explosion occurred on board the 660-foot-long U.S. tankship OMI CHARGER, which was anchored in Bolivar Roads near Galveston, Texas. At the time of the explosion, a welder, who was making repairs to stop a small leak in the bulkhead, burned through the bulkhead, initiating an explosion in the No. 5 port cargo tank. The welder, the firewatch, and the vessel's pumpman were killed by the explosion. The vessel, valued at $12 million, was declared a constructive total loss. The safety issues discussed in the report include preparation of tanks for welding on board the OMI CHARGER; management oversight of tank vessel gas-freeing procedures; fire and disaster preparedness in the Galveston area; and timeliness of toxicological testing.
Keywords	Accident investigations Marine accidents Gas explosions Tanker ships Explosions Fires Gasoline vapors Welding Leaks Fatalities Injuries Human factors Recommendations Texas Procedures Tank washing Gas-freeing Galveston(Texas) OMI CHARGER tankship Bolivar Roads
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85D - Transportation Safety 85G - Marine & Waterway Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199508