Potential for explosion closes Morehead City port

WRAL ^ | 1/12/2010

[TC Rider]

Morehead City, N.C. — Authorities closed the port at Morehead City on Tuesday morning after nine containers filled with "highly explosive materials" were punctured.

U.S. Highway 70 between Radio Island and 5th Street in Morehead City was closed to traffic and pedestrians, officials said.

[TC Rider]

Morehead City is a major port in NC. They mostly do dry goods that are offloaded by conveyor, though they also do some containers.

Pray for the emergency workers that are on site.

[passionfruit]

How do you puncture NINE contianers? Do you have Mr. Magoo driving a forklift on the docks?

[GeronL]

It was no accident.

An explosion would obliterate any evidence.

[BenLurkin]

The “how” is conspicuously absent from the news item.

[TC Rider]

I heard on the way in from a local that only 4 of the nine were punctured. For some reason that doesn’t make me feel better.

[BluH2o]

Morehead City, NC is just up the road from the Marine Base at Camp Lejeune. The port at Morehead City is used frequently when Marines deploy, or return, from overseas by Navy ships.

[BykrBayb]

The “how” is conspicuously absent from every news item I’ve been able to find.

I’ve asked a couple guys who are very familiar with port operations “Is there any accidental way in which nine containers could be punctured?” They both laughed and said “No!”

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

FOX just reported that the containers had PETN in them.

[Red_Devil 232]

And it is just down the road from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC.

[Hodar]

“Is there any accidental way in which nine containers could be punctured?” They both laughed and said “No!”

Sounds like someone was trying to start a chain reaction, and failed.

Hmmm, Amish forklift drivers? Bad Baptist? Crazy Catholic? Mad Mormon? Jealous Jew?

Golly, I have no idea where to start looking; perhaps Obama has a senior job position for me in the Homeland Security Department.

[Constitution Day]

I believe Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU) is also at the Morehead City port.

It is the largest ammunition port in the US.

[Rebelbase]

Thanks for posting this. I alerted a couple of fishing forums for that area.

[mark3681]

“FOX just reported that the containers had PETN in them.”

Michael Moore is the only one I can think of that can hide that much PETN in his underwear!

[norraad]

..laughed & said , "No"

Very important, they actually work and understand day to day operations.

Often "Security" x-spurts get "hired in" to 'upgrade' security in these places w/o getting to know or tap guys like these guys for advice.

[TC Rider]

There are valid reasons for PETN to be moving through that port, the punctures concern me. Makes me wonder if some amish were taking pot shots at them.

My understanding is that PETN is normally shipped ‘wet’. It is much more volatile when it dries out.

[Tallguy]

And it is just down the road from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC.

Seymour Johnson AFB contributes to the air traffic over Moe-head.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

*chuckle*

[Sacajaweau]

btt

[Sacajaweau]

What would you NEED to puncture one of these containers??? A dremel?? 9 snipers??

We're dealing with moles lately...Hassan, the CIA thing...

[Rebelbase]

“And it is just down the road from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC.”

I spent the first week of Nov. camped at Portsmouth Island. Cherry Point has a bombing range out in the Pamlico opposite of where we were camping. It was very cool to hear and see the lights of the Harriers and their engines when flying away at night.