LPG Tanker Catches Fire in Houston Ship Channel
A hearth broke out onboard a LPG tanker moored within the Houston Ship Channel close to Galena Park on Monday morning.
The Coast Guard says the fireplace was reported at about 9:45 a.m. on the Liberian-flagged LPG tanker Navigator Europa, which was moored at Targa’s Galena Park LPG export terminal.
The Coast Guard mentioned the fireplace occurred because the ship was loading a cargo of liquid ethylene.
The hearth has been extinguished, the Coast Guard mentioned.
A photo revealed by native media exhibits smoke emanating from the deck of the vessel as hearth crews work to extinguish the blaze.
The Coast Guard mentioned that the fireplace was reported to have come from the ship’s compressor room.
The incident has prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to shut a 2-mile part of the higher Houston Ship from mild 164 to mild 151 (close to Greensport Dock West). There are at the moment three ships within the queu to depart outbound and one tug and barge ready to return inbound. Update: The Houston Ship Channel was reopened shortly after the fireplace was extinguished.
“The fire is out, all personnel are accounted for and on scene air monitoring has not detected any further threat from the ethylene that was being transferred,” the Coast Guard mentioned in a press release.
Following the preliminary report of the fireplace, Coast Guard Station Houston response boats and Port of Houston hearth boats responded instantly to safe the realm and suppress the fireplace. Additional hearth and dangerous supplies response groups have been deployed from Harris County, Houston, Galena Park and San Jacinto to make sure the protection of the general public and the surroundings, the Coast Guard mentioned.
Upper #Houston Ship Channel closed close to 610. Fire aboard liquid fuel service xferring ethylene. @USCG @PortofHouston reply. #BreakingNews
— USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) December 14, 2015
Developing story, examine again for updates…
Monthly Insights from the Helm
Dive right into a sea of data with our meticulously curated weekly “Dispatch” e-mail. It’s greater than only a e-newsletter; it’s your private maritime briefing.
