Skip to main content

Accidents

BOW MARINER (2004)

The chemical tanker Bow Mariner caught fire, exploded, and sank while cleaning cargo tanks off the coast of Virginia, resulting in 21 crew members dead or missing.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Fire / Sinking
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameBOW MARINER
Vessel TypeTanker
Flag StateSingapore [SG]
IMO Number7923512
Call SignS6EO3
Gross Tonnage22587
LOA (m)173.8
Breadth (m)32.0
OwnerOdfjell Asia II PTE Ltd.
OperatorCeres Hellenic Ship Enterprises, Ltd.
Year Built1982
Persons on Board27
Cargo3,188,711 gallons of ethyl alcohol; residual MTBE was being cleaned from cargo tank No. 8 starboard

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2004-02-28
LocationAtlantic Ocean, about 45 nm east of Virginia; sinking position 37 deg 52.8' N, 074 deg 15.3' W
Coordinates37.880000, -74.255000
RegionAtlantic Ocean
Fatalities3
Injuries
Missing18
Vessels Lost1
Investigation BodyUnited States Coast Guard
Environmental ImpactEthyl alcohol, heavy fuel oil, diesel fuel, and slops were released; a persistent offshore oil slick and seabird impacts were later documented.
OutcomeBOW MARINER sank by the bow at 19:37. Six crewmembers survived, three died, and 18 remained missing.

Key facts

  • BOW MARINER caught fire and exploded at 18:05 while residual MTBE was being cleaned from cargo tank No. 8 starboard.
  • The vessel sank by the bow at 19:37 at 37 deg 52.8' N, 074 deg 15.3' W.
  • Six of 27 crewmembers survived; three died and 18 remained missing.
  • The Coast Guard attributed the casualty to ignition of a flammable fuel-and-air mixture, but the precise ignition source was not determined.
  • The investigation identified failures in safety-management implementation, inert-gas use, and emergency drills and alarms.

Narrative

At 18:05 on 28 February 2004, the Singapore-flagged chemical and oil tanker BOW MARINER caught fire and exploded while the crew was cleaning residual methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from cargo tank No. 8 starboard. The vessel was about 45 nautical miles east of Virginia. The Coast Guard investigation found that the casualty was caused by ignition of a fuel-and-air mixture within its flammable limits, although the precise ignition source could not be determined.

The vessel sank by the bow at 19:37 at 37 deg 52.8' N, 074 deg 15.3' W. Six crewmembers abandoned ship into an inflatable life raft and were rescued by the Coast Guard. Other crewmembers entered the water; three were recovered, one deceased and two of whom died before reaching a hospital. Eighteen remained missing and were presumed dead in the Coast Guard report.

The investigation identified failures to properly implement the company and vessel Safety, Quality and Environmental Protection Management System. The vessel's plan called for inert gas during MTBE cargo operations, but the Coast Guard found that it was not used during the relevant discharge. Opening cargo accesses during tank cleaning allowed residual MTBE vapors to escape. The Coast Guard's later summary also reported that regular and effective emergency drills were not conducted, and that the general alarm was not sounded and no announcement directed the crew during the emergency.

The vessel's cargo of ethyl alcohol, together with heavy fuel oil, diesel fuel, and slops, was released. The U.S. Geological Survey's case record reports a persistent offshore oil slick and significant seabird mortality associated with the spill. The reviewed sources do not provide a verified monetary total for vessel damage or overall economic loss.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2004-02-28 18:05BOW MARINER caught fire and exploded during cleaning of residual MTBE from cargo tank No. 8 starboard.
2004-02-28 19:37The vessel sank by the bow at 37 deg 52.8' N, 074 deg 15.3' W.
2004-02-28Six crewmembers reached an inflatable life raft and were rescued; three others recovered from the water died, and 18 remained missing.
2004-02-28 onwardEthyl alcohol, heavy fuel oil, diesel fuel, and slops were released; response and environmental assessment followed.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Flammable fuel-and-air mixtureConfirmed findingThe Coast Guard concluded that ignition of a fuel-and-air mixture within its flammable limits caused the casualty; the precise ignition source was not determined.
Tank cleaning and vapor releaseConfirmed findingCargo accesses were opened during cleaning of residual MTBE, allowing flammable vapors to escape from the tanks.
Inert-gas system not used as requiredConfirmed findingThe vessel's safety-management plan called for inert gas during the relevant MTBE operation, but the Coast Guard found that the system was not used during discharge.
Safety-management implementationConfirmed findingThe operator and senior officers did not properly implement the vessel and company Safety, Quality and Environmental Protection Management System.
Emergency drills and alarmsConfirmed findingThe investigation found that regular and effective emergency drills were not conducted, and that the general alarm was not sounded during the casualty.

Investigation

The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads conducted the formal investigation on behalf of Singapore, the vessel's flag state. The report identifies the ignition of a flammable fuel-and-air mixture as the cause, while leaving the exact ignition source unresolved. Its analysis covers safety-management implementation, inert-gas operation, tank cleaning, confined-space issues, emergency training, shipboard culture, and commercial pressures. A later Coast Guard summary confirms the investigation's findings on the Safety, Quality and Environmental Protection Management System, inert-gas use, immersion suits, and emergency drills.

References

Similar incidents