M/V Elias explosion and fire at Fort Mifflin, Pa. , on 9 April 1974 with loss of life. Marine casualty report

Technical Report · Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6716525

At approximately 10 P.M. on 9 April 1974 while the M/V ELIAS was in the process of completing the discharge of a full cargo of Bachaquero crude oil at the Atlantic Richfield Oil (ARCO) Terminal, Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania on the Delaware River the vessel sustained a series of three massive explosions, burned and sank. Nine members of the crew and four visitors (relatives of the master) perished or are missing. The M/V ELIAS was a total loss and the SS EDWARD L. STEINGER and the ARCO Terminal sustained extensive damages. The report contains the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation report and the Action taken by the Commandant to determine the probable cause of the casualty and the recommendations to prevent recurrence. The Commandant concurred with the Marine Board that source, and location of the initial explosion cannot be determined. Evidence of internal explosion in the after pump room, the cofferdam in the number 3 starboard cargo tanks, and in several of the cargo tanks indicate a varied path of the explosions.

• Research Organization: Coast Guard, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6716525
• Report Number(s): AD-A-049845; USCG-16732/51363
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MARITIME TRANSPORT
ACCIDENTS
PETROLEUM
DELAWARE RIVER
EXPLOSIONS
FIRES
PENNSYLVANIA
SAFETY
SHIPS
TERMINAL FACILITIES
WATER POLLUTION
CENTRAL REGION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSPORT
USA
570000* - Health & Safety
020600 - Petroleum- Health & Safety
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)