Right Column
Unsafe Ship
PREVENTION FIRST!!!
The Greek owned oil tanker, the "NEPTUNE DORADO" was detained by Port State authorities at an anchorage in San Francisco Bay following discovery of more than 30 safety violations on board. Originally, the 53,000 ton ship had been ordered to leave the Bay Area, but conditions on board were so unsafe it was feared the vessel could be lost at sea if it carried out the order. As a last resort safety measure, the vessel was allowed to discharge its cargo so that it could make immediate repairs. The vessel proceeded to the Tosco Corporation Marine Terminal at Rodeo, California to transfer its cargo of 24 million gallons of crude oil ashore.
Working in concert with the U. S. Coast Guard, Inspectors from the California State Lands Commission, Marine Facilities Division boarded the vessel to assess conditions on board. State Lands Inspectors said that the ship had virtually no safety plan for transporting and delivering the oil. The ship's fire fighting system was not functioning and the sewage system was leaking into the interior of the vessel. Other problems aboard the vessel included leaking bulkheads between cargo tanks. Additionally, the cargo tanks of the "NEPTUNE DORADO" leaked oil into the ballast tanks creating a situation where there was an explosive mixture in the ballast tanks. One spark could have caused an explosion.
State Lands Commission, Marine Facilities Division Inspectors implemented a monitoring plan that oversaw the entire oil transfer operation while the ship was at the Tosco Corporation Marine Terminal. Operations and safety plans were carefully reviewed and approved by the State Lands Inspectors in order to ensure that the vessel's cargo would be safely transferred from the ship to Terminal. The State Lands Inspectors then observed each and every safety aspect of the oil transfer and helped direct the operations from the ship to shore.
Explosive mixtures in the vessel's ballast tanks were diluted to a safe level by adding nitrogen gas. State Lands Inspectors directed the entire operation and carefully monitored each tank as it was brought down from the 'extremely explosive zone' to the 'safe zone'.
The General Manager of Tosco Corp, Mr. Willie Chiang, personally expressed sincere gratitude for the services and help rendered by the State Inspectors to safely secure and discharge the "NEPTUNE DORADO" at the Tosco Rodeo Marine Oil Terminal.
The ship's captain, vessel owner, and the vessel operator pled guilty to criminal charges and in a plea bargain, agreed to pay 2.5 million dollars in fines.