NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR: ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER GULF COAST STATES THAT MAY HAVE JURISDICTION WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE TYPE, NUMBER, LOCATION, AND OWNER OF ALL OFFSHORE PIPE LINES IN THE GULF MEXICO. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-02-22

Adopted Date: 1990-02-21

Overall Date Closed: 2001-09-12

Synopsis: ABOUT 5:50 P.M. CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, THE UNITED STATES MENHADEN FISHING VESSEL NORTHUMBERLAND, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE ZAPATA HAYNIE CORPORATION (VESSEL OWNER), WAS BACKING AND MANEUVERING IN 9 TO 11 FEET OF WATER WHEN THE STERN OF THE VESSEL STRUCK AND RUPTURED AN OFFSHORE 16-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OWNED BY NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA (PIPELINE COMPANY). NATURAL GAS UNDER 835 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE ON BOARD THE VESSEL IGNITED THE GAS, AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE VESSEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE ON THE VESSEL BURNED UNTIL 4:30 A.M. ON OCTOBER 4, WHEN IT BURNED ITSELF OUT. LEAKING GAS FROM THE PIPELINE ALSO CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FLOW OF GAS SUBSIDED AND THE FIRE SELF-EXTINGUISHED ABOUT 6 A.M. ON OCTOBER 4. ELEVEN OF FOURTEEN CREW MEMBERS DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VESSEL WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE OFFSHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO (GULF) AND ABOUT 5 1/3 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF THE JETTIES AT THE ENTRANCE TO SABINE PASS, TEXAS.

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MM001

Report Number: PAR-90-02

Addressee Name: United States Department of the Interior

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-09-12

Addressee Acronym: DOI

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-10-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing its safety recommendation files to identify those recommendations on which there has been no correspondence for an extended time. On February 22, 1990, the Safety Board issued Safety Recommendations P-90-3 through -5 to the Department of Transportation (DOT) concerning submerged offshore pipelines. Safety Recommendations P-90-3 and -4 requested urgent action from your office. Our records show, however, that we have not received a response from the DOT regarding the recommended action. We would appreciate being informed as to what efforts were made or are being made to implement these recommendations especially P-90-3 and -4. The Safety Board's letter transmitting these recommendations is enclosed for your information. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Addressee Acronym: DOI

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2001-09-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Accordingly, because the DOI worked with the DOT’s RSPA and other Federal and State agencies as requested, Safety Recommendation P-90-1 to the DOI is classified “Closed--Acceptable Action.”

Addressee Acronym: DOI

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-04-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MMS REPRESENTATIVES ARE WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO BETTER DEFINE AND RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS WORKING GROUP IS COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF DOT'S OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY (OPS), U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U.S. COAST GUARD, AND THE NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE. THIS GROUP IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROVIDE A COORDINATED FEDERAL APPROACH WHICH WILL SERVE TO BETTER DEFINE THE EXTENT OF DANGER OF OFFSHORE PIPELINES TO MARINE VESSELS AND TO INITIATE COORDINATED CORRECTIVE MEASURES WHEN AND WHERE APPROPRIATE. MMS EXPECTS TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS EFFORT EVEN THOUGH THE PIPELINES IN THE MORE HAZARDOUS OFFSHORE AREAS FALL OUTSIDE MMS'S AREA OF JURISDICTION.