On March 6, 1982, the 894-foot-long U.S. tankship SS GOLDEN DOLPHIN was en route in ballast from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Several crewmembers were replacing a section of the main deck steam piping; welding equipment and an oxygen-acetylene torch were used in the repairs. At the same time, five other crewmembers were cleaning one of the vessel's cargo tanks. About 1554, the first of several explosions occurred in the GOLDEN DOLPHIN's cargo tanks. An intense fire erupted and eventually engulfed the entire forward half of the vessel. On the following day, the vessel sank in the Atlantic Ocean about 900 nautical miles east of Bermuda. Nine of the vessel's 25 crewmembers died as a result of the explosions and fire. The GOLDEN DOLPHIN was valued at approximately $29 million. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ignition by a welding arc or oxygen-acetylene torch of combustible gases in the GOLDEN DOLPHIN's forward main deck steam piping and the propagation of the resulting flames through the steam piping in a cargo tank containing an explosive atmosphere.


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    Title :

    Marine Accident Report - Explosions and Fire on Board the U.S. Tankship SS GOLDEN DOLPHIN in the Atlantic Ocean, March 6, 1982


    Publication date :

    1983


    Size :

    36 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English