# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-021

**Citation:** P-80-021  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-03-13  
**Published:** 1980-03-13

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHELL OIL COMPANY: REQUIRE THAT A SURVEYOR BE ON LOCATION TO DIRECT ANY CHANGES IN ANCHOR POSITION WHICH MAY EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED MARGIN OF SAFETY.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-021.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHELL OIL COMPANY: REQUIRE THAT A SURVEYOR BE ON LOCATION TO DIRECT ANY CHANGES IN ANCHOR POSITION WHICH MAY EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED MARGIN OF SAFETY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-03-13

Adopted Date: 1980-02-21

Overall Date Closed: 1983-05-17

Synopsis: ON JULY 15, 1979, 95 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS) IN SHELL OIL COMPANY'S (SHELL) SOUTH PASS, BLOCK 62, FIELD, A 14-INCH SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY TRANSMISSION LINE OPERATING AT A PRESSURE OF 900 PSIG WAS SNAGGED AND RUPTURED BY A GRAPPLING HOOK FROM THE ANCHOR-HANDLING VESSEL PETE TIDE II, WHILE THE VESSEL WAS GRAPPLING FOR AN ANCHOR PENDANT FROM THE SEMI SUBMERSIBLE DRILLING RIG OCEAN QUEEN. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE CAUSED THE DEATH OF TWO PERSONS AND INJURIES TO FOUR OTHERS. DAMAGE TOTALED OVER $1,500,000.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA79MP023

Report Number: PAR-80-01

Addressee Name: Shell Oil Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-05-17

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SHELL OIL COMPANY LETTER: A SURVEY CREW IS REQUESTED TO INITIALLY SET OUT OR MAKE ANY SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT OF ANCHORS ARE PLACED WITHIN 500 FEET OF A HAZARD.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-05-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-021>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `10a79060f2c1a839fa209afd8cccd4cc91773bf563d74f0dbde50419ff35fddd`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T23:11:29.175Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-021`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-021",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Marine, Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA79MP023",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-05-17",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2025-05-29",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA79MP023.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_19_22.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Shell Oil Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-05-17",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-18",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "SHELL OIL COMPANY LETTER:  A SURVEY CREW IS REQUESTED TO INITIALLY SET OUT OR MAKE ANY SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT OF ANCHORS ARE PLACED WITHIN 500 FEET OF A HAZARD."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-05-17",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```