NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-038

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-038.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: ASSIST THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PERMANENT MEASURES TO INCREASE THE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AND AMONG FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES, AND THE PIPELINE, FISHING, AND MARINE INDUSTRIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-10-01

Adopted Date: 1990-09-11

Overall Date Closed: 2001-04-25

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, THE UNITED STATES FISHING VESSEL NORTHUMBERLAND STRUCK AND RUPTURED A 16-INCH-DIAMETER NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE ABOUT 1/2 NAUTICAL MILE OFFSHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND ABOUT 5 1/3 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF THE JETTIES AT THE ENTRANCE TO SABINE PASS, TEXAS. NATURAL GAS UNDER A PRESSURE OF 835 PSIG 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 ITSELF OUT ON OCTOBER 4. LEAKING GAS FROM THE PIPELINE ALSO CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL OCTOBER 4. OF THE 14 CREW MEMBERS, 11 DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MM001

Report Number: PAR-90-02

Addressee Name: United States Department of War, Department of the Army

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-04-25

Addressee Acronym: DA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2001-04-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On March 8, 1993, based on information provided in RSPA's letter of August 31, 1992, the Safety Board classified Safety Recommendation P-90-30, "Closed-Acceptable Action," noting that RSPA's Office of Pipeline Safety had met regularly with the Minerals Management Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other organizations to discuss pipeline safety matters and that RSPA planned to continue to attend Coast Guard advisory committee meetings and Regional Response Team meetings. Accordingly, based on RSPA's action on Safety Recommendation P-90-30, which included the assistance of the Corps, Safety Recommendation P-90-38 is also classified "Closed-Acceptable Action."