NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-017

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-017.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD: IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEVELOP FACILITY MARKING AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-03-13

Adopted Date: 1980-02-21

Overall Date Closed: 1981-06-15

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 SEMISUBMERSIBLE 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: USCG

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-06-15

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-08-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: USCG LTR: THE COAST GUARD CONCURS WITH THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION. PIPELINES DO NOT NORMALLY CONSITUTE A HAZARD TO GENERAL PURPOSE NAVIGATION. THEREFORE, THE COAST GUARD DOES NOT REQUIRE PIPELINES TO BE MARKED WITH AIDS TO NAVIGATION. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO OFFSHORE OPERATORS ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY FLOATS TO MARK THE LOCATION OF PIPELINES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF AN OFFSHORE FACILITY. IF THE FLOAT ITSELF PRESENTS A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION, THE OWNER MUST SUBMIT A PRIVATE AID APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 33 CFR 66.01-5, AND MARK IT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE DISTRICT COMMANDER.

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-04-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: U.S. COAST GUARD LTR: THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) HAS BEGUN EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE FACTORS WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT TO THE PETE TIDE II. PUBLIC NOTICE 80-5, ISSUED BY USGS, GULF OF MEXICO REGION, IS RESPONSIVE TO THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION. THE COAST GUARD AGREES WITH THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THIS NOTICE AND WE HAVE BEGUN EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE USGS TO IMPROVE THE NOTICE.

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-09-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-06-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence