NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ISSUE AN ADVISORY NOTICE OR USE OTHER MEANS TO CAUTION COMMERCIAL FISHING SHRIMPING, AND OTHER MARINE VESSEL OPERATORS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THAT SUBMERGED OFFSHORE PIPELINES MAY BE UNPROTECTED ON THE OCEAN FLOOR AND THAT MARINE VESSELS CAN DAMAGE SUCH PIPELINES AND ENDANGER THEIR CREWS WHEN OPERATING IN WATER DEPTHS COMPARABLE TO A VESSEL'S DRAFT OR WHEN OPERATING BOTTOM DRAGGING EQUIPMENT. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-02-22

Adopted Date: 1990-02-21

Overall Date Closed: 1990-10-02

Synopsis: ABOUT 5:50 P.M. CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME 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 OR WATER WHEN THE STERN OF THE VESSEL STRUCK AND REPTURED 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-EXTINGUISED 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: DOT

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-10-02

Addressee Acronym: DOT

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-05-11

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: DOT

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-05-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE ENCLOSED NOTICE, "IMPORTANT SAFETYII NOTICE CONCERNING SUBMERGED OFFSHORE PIPELINES," WAS PREPARED BY COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS AND HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH COAST GUARD DISTRICTS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS AND FOR PRESS RELEASES TO THE LOCAL MEDIA. IN ADDITION, AN ALERT NOTICE WARNING OPERATORS OF LARGE AND SMALL VESSELS OF THE PRESENCE OF EXPOSED PIPELINES ON THE SEA FLOOR AND THE HAZARD THOSE PIPELINES POSE TO THE CREWS OF MARINE VESSELS WHEN OPERATING IN WATER DEPTH COMPARABLE TO THEIR VESSEL'S DRAFT OR WHEN OPERATING BOTTOM-DRAGGING EQUIPMENT WAS PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION.

Addressee Acronym: DOT

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-10-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence