Fatal Blast Sparks More than Just Fire
Smoke and flames billowed after an explosion this morning at the ExxonMobil Port Mobil terminal on Staten Island, NY. Barge B#125, operated by Bouchard Transportation, containing 100,000 barrels of unleaded gasoline was being offloaded when the explosion occurred. The fire prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to shut down the Arthur Kills waterway -- a key waterway for New Jersey and New York Harbor refinery and terminal shipments. A man's body was pulled from the water three hours after the fire started about 10 a.m., according to authorities. Two crewmembers aboard the Barge B#125 are still missing. Bouchard issued a statement expressing concern a environmental impact of the explosion and has retained several companies to contain any spill of gasoline and mitigate any damage.
Oil Spill Response: Alstom Has Innovative Spill Clean Up Concept
At press time, the news of the oil refinery explosion in MR/EN's neighboring borough of Staten Island, NY has rocked not only New York City and its environs, but once again proven the tenuous hold that is sometimes had in the process of delivering petroleum products by ship and barge. Piecing together scattered first-hand and wire reports, it is alleged that the cause of the explosion was a barge belonging to Hicksville, N.Y.-based Bouchard Transportation Co. that exploded while workers were offloading 100,000 barrels of unleaded gasoline off the Bouchard B#125 barge at the ExxonMobil Port Mobil Terminal in Staten Island. Killed in the blast were two longtime Bouchard employees…
