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OMI Charger

Coordinates: 29°21′01″N 94°45′10″W / 29.3503°N 94.7529°W / 29.3503; -94.7529
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History
United States
NameOMI Charger
OperatorOMI Corporation
BuilderBethlehem Steel Corporation
Launched10 June 1969
IdentificationIMO number6921311
FateSank in Galveston, Texas on October 9, 1993
General characteristics
Class and typeSteel hull oil tanker
Tonnage34,485 DWT
Length631 ft 1 in (192.35 m)
Beam90.1 ft (27.5 m)
Draught48.9 ft (14.9 m)
Propulsionsteam turbine 15,000 hp (11,000 kW)

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

Disaster

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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

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  1. ^ "Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Explosion and Fire Aboard the Tanker OMI Charger" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2007-09-11.

29°21′01″N 94°45′10″W / 29.3503°N 94.7529°W / 29.3503; -94.7529