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Midwest Cities Research Paper

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On the lower Mississippi River on March 19, 1968 around 0340 the SS African collided with the Midwest Cities, a towing vessel, which was transporting two tank barges. The front barge was the Intercity no. 14 and the rear was the Intercity no. 11. Intercity no. 11 was loaded with 19,000 barrels of crude oil. The crude oil’s combustible vapors escaped during the collision and led to a serious shipboard fire on the SS African Star. The SS African Star was headed downstream at a 140 degree true course at about 16 knots. The Midwest Cities was at about 320 degrees going 6 knots upstream. The two vessels were closing in on each other at about 22 knots. Despite the darkness, the visibility was good and both vessels were aware of the others presence …show more content…

The pilot thought everything was fine until the SS African Star blew the whistle twice when its bow was abeam to the barge, he said, he saw the green starboard lights on the African Star and responded with one whistle and then blew the whistle four time, while putting the Midwest Cities full astern and putting the rudder hard right to avoid the collision. According to the SS African Star, it was headed downstream just west of the middle of the river. He said he saw the Midwest Cities green starboard lights and tow lights off his starboard bow and that it was following the west bank. He thought it looked like a starboard to starboard passing. About half a mile from the barge the SS African Star put off two blast on the whistle, but was met without reply. Two minutes later the Midwest Cities started crossing the African Star’s starboard bow showing the red portside lights. The pilot ordered full astern and rudder hard right while sounding one blast on the whistle. All efforts to avoid the collision failed resulting in a terrible fire. The two post mortem statements from the two boats are contradictory, so it is difficult to determine the exact happenings leading up to the collision and …show more content…

Intercity no. 11 barge on the side at about a 45 degree angle. The collision caused the steel hulls of the two vessels to rub against each other and create sparks and heat from the friction. These sparks and heat could have potentially been the ignition source of the fire. The crude oil had an estimated flashpoint of 80 degrees Fahrenheit meaning the oil was a grade C flam¬mable liquid. Fire and explosions started in the first few minutes on Intercity no. 11. The Midwest Cities immediately went full astern to get away from the fire and Intercity no. 14 drifted away. The Intercity no. 11 grounded and sank. The vapors from the escaped crude oil were blown over the African Star’s bow and ignited. The flames spread throughout the ship. The fire was in hold 2, 4, and 5. The paint was burning and the supplies and cargo on deck was also on fire. The smoke was very thick and it filled a large portion of the ship, including the engine space and living quarters. The pilot decided the best option was to run the vessel aground to aid in the firefighting and rescue operations. There was burning oil around the vessel in the water. Some people tried to jump overboard but they would land in the fires. Many people tried to escape out the port holes due to the fact that they were trapped in their room. Many people’s life jackets and clothing caught on fire and they burned. Ropes on the life boats had burned, which made evacuation difficult.

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