Divers Find Body of Missing Crewman in Damaged Tanker

Divers examining a blast-damaged tanker to determine how to safely remove its fuel on Monday discovered the body of a missing crewman.

The body, under water in a cargo tank inside the ship, brought the confirmed death toll from Saturday’s pair of explosions and fire to three, the Coast Guard said.

Maritime traffic was back to its usual clip through the busy Houston Ship Channel, where the 660-foot OMI Charger exploded, burned and partially sank less than a mile off Galveston Island.

Lt. Emile Benard, a spokesman for the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Office, said the tanker remained stable, listing slightly to port with its stern on the bottom in 38 feet of water.

Coast Guard officials said infrared instruments detected no spilled fuel.

Workers examined the tanker for underlying structural damage in anticipation of pumping out 365,000 gallons of heavy oil, fuel for the ship’s engines. The ship was not loaded with its usual cargo of gasoline. New York-based OMI Corp., owner of the ship, said the fuel removal likely would start this morning.

OMI spokesman Tom Scott said there was little danger of the fuel spilling. Protective booms encircled the ship and guarded nearby sensitive marshlands just in case.

Although officials said two of the dead crewmen were welding in one of the tanker’s holds at the time of the initial blast, no cause has been established.