M/V ELIAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT FORT MIFFLIN, PA., ON 9 APRIL 1974 WITH LOSS OF LIFE. MARINE CASUALTY REPORT

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. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Publication Date: 1977-9-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 43 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cargo handling; Casualties; Crash causes; Crash investigation; Crude oil; Explosions; Fatalities; Fires; Hazardous materials; Loss and damage; Merchant vessels; Oil spills; Safety; Ships; Tankers; Transportation; Water transportation crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Damage assessment; Ship fires
• Old TRIS Terms: Casualty data; Discharge; Hazardous materials transportation; Ship casualties; Ss elias; Tanker casualties; Tanker explosions
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175371
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: USCG-16732/51363
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1978 12:00AM