Search Is On for Crew After Tanker Explodes

A tanker carrying industrial ethanol exploded and sank about 50 miles off the Virginia coast Saturday night, the Coast Guard said. At least three of the 27 crew members aboard were killed, and rescue crews were searching for 19 others.

The Bow Mariner, traveling from New York to Houston and carrying 3.5 million gallons of ethanol, caught fire and exploded about 6 p.m. off Chincoteague.

The six crew members rescued were in critical condition, said Lt. Chris Shaffer of emergency services in Ocean City, Md.

“When the rescue divers got on the scene, the fuel tanker was on fire, sinking, and there [were] people in the water,” Shaffer said.

The 570-foot tanker flying a Singapore flag put in an emergency call just after 6 p.m., saying there had been an explosion on board, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Stacey Pardini.

Three helicopters, three Coast Guard boats and a C-130 plane were searching for survivors.

The Coast Guard was concerned about the environmental impact of the accident, according to Lt. Buddy Dye, but he said the first priority was trying to save the missing seamen.

“We’re being hampered by the dark and of course the chemicals in the water, but the sea conditions are not too bad.”