Posted on 11/10/2007 9:52:42 PM PST by yorkie
SAN DIEGO (AP) — An explosion in the hull of a Navy cruiser during routine maintenance injured six workers on Saturday, two of them critically, authorities said.
Subcontractors from the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. were working in the fuel tank of the USS Lake Champlain as it sat in dry dock when the explosion occurred just after noon, said San Diego Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque.
"Apparently it was caused by flammable gas that ignited," Luque said. "We don't know how or why."
Two of the workers were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center with "major trauma burns" that Luque said were life-threatening
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
Seems a lot of this happening lately:
Fire on Navy ship hurts 5
Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Sep 16, 2007
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A small fire broke out aboard a Navy guided missile cruiser Saturday, injuring five civilian workers, officials said. The USS Leyte Gulf was undergoing repairs and a renovation when the fire started Saturday morning, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Bruce Evans said.
The ship, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, was docked at BAE Systems Ship Repair Systems. The fire occurred two decks below the main deck, Evans said.
Ping.
It’s actually a Spruance class destroyer hull, but due to the weapons suite, it’s desginated a cruiser.
Ships wheelerize (sp)and certify by the ships gas free engineer. Of course the contractor will test for explosive vapors too before cutting or welding. Wheelerizing is basically washing with hot soapy water and flushing.
Jack
Whoops. Who was the gas-free engineer on that job?
There is nothing new to report this morning, except that one worker remains in critical condition.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3ugehplOmwCX3OoBriIEs8_WcVQ
The ship was dry-docked, and they still don’t know why the explosion occurred.
Prayers for the injured worker continue.
Thanks for the ping.
Saw this on our local news last night.
The Ship yards here in San Diego have good reords,
Besides repair, there is major ship building for years for New navy and cargo ships.
Nassco built mine.
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