OMI Charger

Summary

The OMI Charger was a single-hulled oil tanker built in 1969 and used by the OMI Corporation.

History
United States
NameOMI Charger
OperatorOMI Corporation
BuilderBethlehem Steel Corporation
Launched10 June 1969
IdentificationIMO number: 6921311
FateSank in Galveston, Texas on October 9, 1993
General characteristics
Class and typeSteel hull oil tanker
Tonnage34,485 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
Length631 ft 1 in (192.35 m)
Beam90.1 ft (27.5 m)
Draught48.9 ft (14.9 m)
Propulsionsteam turbine 15,000 horse power

Disaster edit

On October 9, 1993 while the tanker was anchored at Boliver Roads near Galveston, Texas, work began on sealing a previously discovered leak in a cargo tank. When a crew member lit an arc welder inside a tank, it ignited gasoline vapors, causing a tremendous explosion which killed three crew members and injured seven. The subsequent fire burned for five hours, and the ship was a total loss.

A US Coast Guard investigation determined that the cargo tank had been improperly cleared and insufficiently tested prior to the incident.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2007-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)