- Author
-
Kintz, G. M.
|
Jones, G. W.
|
Carpenter, C. B.
- Title
- Explosions of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer on Board the S.S. Grndcamp and S.S. High Flyer at Texas City, Texas, April 16, 17, 1947. Report of Investigations.
- Coporate
- Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA
- Report
-
RI 4245,
February 1948,
58 p.
- Keywords
-
fertilizers
|
explosions
|
ammonium nitrates
|
shipbaord fires
|
detonation
|
injuries
|
death
- Abstract
- At 9:12 a.m. on April 16, 1947, the ammonium nitrate cargo in hold 4 of the S.S. GRANDCAMP, a 7,176-gross-ton Liberty ship owned by the French Government, detonated at pier 0 of the Texas City Terminal Railway Co., Texas City, Galveston County, Texas. This detonation was the first of a series of explosions and fires that took the lives of approximately 600 persons,injured 3,000 other persone, and caused a property damage and business loss that will exceed $58,800,000. It has been estimated that the life, accident, and workmen's compensation insurance loss will be $8,200,000. At l:10 a.m. on april 17, 1947, the ammonium nitrate cargo in hold 3 of the S.S. HIGH FLYER, a 6,214-gross-ton Liberty ship owned and operated by the Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc., detonated at pier B. This explosion materially increased the property damage caused by the first explosion, injured between 50 and 100 persons, and is believed to have taken the life of only one person.