(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 16 April 1947, in the port of Texas City, Texas, the freighter GRANDCAMP, with a cargo of ammonium nitrate, small arms ammunition, machinery, and sisal twine, caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the nearby freighter HIGH FLYER, loaded with ammonium nitrate and sulphur. When the two ships exploded, it largely flattened…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 20 April 2010, the MODU Deepwater Horizon, engaged in drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico, suffered a catastrophic explosion and fire. Eleven workers died. Due primarily to the heroic efforts of the crew of the OSV Damon B. Bankston, the other 115 persons on the MODU were evacuated safely. A…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Failure to comply with company procedures regarding entry into enclosed spaces can be fatal. This key shipboard operation sadly continues to cause injury and take lives every year, and in the following we briefly deal with the hazards, regulations and procedures involved in entering enclosed spaces. The most frequent hazards when entering an enclosed space…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 6 April 1969, the steamship Union Faith, operating with a local pilot, was upbound on the Mississippi River at New Orleans. The towboat Warren J. Doucet was downbound with three tank barges, each holding about 9,000 barrels of crude oil. A second towboat was made up to the port quarter of the face barge.…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Anchoring is a common and vital operation on any ship. However, it has been widely felt that anchoring equipment designs have not kept up with the evolving industry demand for anchoring ships in deeper and more exposed anchorages. When identifying the challenges associated with anchoring procedures, there was an evident need to review the…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The SS Koombana was a late Edwardian-era passenger, cargo and mail carrying steamship. From March 1909 to March 1912, she operated coastal liner services between Fremantle, Western Australia and various ports in the northwest of that State. She is best known for disappearing at an unknown location north of Port Hedland, Western Australia, during a…
(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 30 March 1899, the ill-fated S.S. Stella left Southampton for a Channel crossing to Guernsey. Fifteen miles from St. Peter Port in deep fog, travelling at nearly top speed, she struck the Casquets reef, and sank within 10 minutes. Of the 190 on board, at least 77 passengers and crew were drowned. The…
