NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-039

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-039.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION, AND THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: NOTIFY MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE RUPTURE OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPE LINE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE FIRE ON BOARD THE F/V NORTHUMBERLAND ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, AND RECOMMEND THAT MEMBERS WHO OPERATE SUBMERGED PIPELINES ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO CONDUCT REGULAR AND ADEQUATE INSPECTIONS OF THEIR SUBMERGED PIPELINES AND MAINTAIN THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS-BUILT CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND ALL RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-10-01

Adopted Date: 1990-09-11

Overall Date Closed: 1991-02-05

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: American Public Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-02-05

Addressee Name: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-10-19

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-10-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: API MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE RUPTURE OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE ON BOARD THE F/V NORTHUMBERLAND. THE INDUSTRY SUPPORTS H.R. 4888 WHICH REQUIRE'S THE INSPECTION OF PIPELINES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IN 15 FEET OR LESS OF WATER DEPTH. API STATES THAT IT ALSO SUPPORTS REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF SUBMERGED PIPELINES, THEIR MAINTENANCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY AGREEMENTS, AND THEIR REBURIAL WHEN NECESSARY TO PREVENT HAZARDS TO NAVIGATION. THIS POSITION HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ITS MEMBERS.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-02-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-12-05

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-12-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AGA IS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST NTSB IN PROMOTING THE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS. WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT NTSB DID NOT INCLUDE IN ITS REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS URGING THE FISHING INDUSTRY TO STOP THE DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL PRACTICES OF OPERATIONG LARGE VESSELS IN WATERS SHALLOWER THAT THE DRAFT OF THE VESSEL.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-02-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-11-13

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-11-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN RESPONSE TO YOUR SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-90-39 CONCERN ING THE FISHING VESSEL NORTHUMBERLAND STRIKING A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE NEAR SABINE PASS, TEXAS, ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, I HAVE INFORMED OUR MEMBERS OF THE INCIDENT AND YOUR RECOMMENDA DATION. IN ADDITION, INGAA'S ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND OPERA TIONS COMMITTEE AND THE PIPELINE SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE WERE TARGETED SPECIFICALLY WITH COPIES OF YOUR ACCIDENT REPORT.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-02-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence