NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION: POST A DIAGRAM OR OTHER MEANS TO ILLUSTRATE THE LOCATIONS OF ALL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE FIRE WATER MAINS AND ITS ISOLATION VALVES AT KEY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COVE POINT FACILITY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-05-07

Adopted Date: 1980-04-16

Overall Date Closed: 1982-05-03

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 6, 1979, AN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) VAPERS DESTROYED A TRANSFORMER BUILDING AT THE RECEPTION FACILITY OF THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION, COVE POINT, MARYLAND. ODORLESS LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LEAKED THROUGH AN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED LNG PUMP SEAL, VAPORIZED, PASSED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 210 FT OF UNDERGOUND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT AND ENTERED THE SUBSTATION BUILDING. ONE PERSON WAS KILLD, AND ONE PERSON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $3 MILLION.

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP001

Report Number: PAR-80-02

Addressee Name: Columbia LNG Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-05-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-06-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION LTR: A DIAGRAM DEPICTING THE LOCATIONS OF ALL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE FIRE WATER MAINS AND ITS LOCATION VALVES AT KEY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COVE POINT FACILITY IS BEING PREPARED AND WILL BE POSTED AT KEY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERMINAL.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-11-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION LTR: ATTACHMENT A, FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, WAS PREPARED TO GIVE THE LOCATION OF ALL THE MAJOR FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT ON THE TERMINAL SITE. THIS DIAGRAM HAS BEEN POSTED IN MONITOR HOUSES, THE FIRE STATION, THE SECURITY BUILDING, THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND IN THE MAINTENANCE AREA.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-10-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-05-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence