Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The March/April 1988 issue of Telescope in it's news section notes that on December 1, 1987 Chief Engineer Stanley Chapin, 59, passed away in Milwaukee from injuries sustained in an explosion on the Middletown in September 1986. It also mentions that assistant engineer Jack Morrell, 52, died 16 days after the accident. Here's the link to the Telescope issue, it's on page 20 of the pdf document: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/images/MHGL0001228841T.PDF

[quote=Denny post_id=273626 time=1756229439]
Don’t know IF this qualifies for this subject and topic or not and since we’re talking some on Great Lakes Ships and Coal Cargo Explosion stuff, I’d like to add this piece of info to this thread. In 1996 don’t recall when, maybe in the Summer in July? The H.M. Griffith now Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin was downbound on Lake Superior when she had issues with a coal cargo she was carrying to Nanticoke. The coal started to burn in her cargo holds and a quick rapid decision had to be made at once! It was decided to try and dump and unload a few thousand tons of the burning coal into Lake Superior to avoid further disaster. Fortunately , the plan and idea worked as the Griffith avoided disaster and sailed for a few more seasons afterward before she was rebuilt with a new cargo section in 2000. Had the Griffith then not unloaded part of her coal cargo into Lake Superior, she could’ve suffered a severe casualty then while at sea. Don’t know if anyone recalls or remembers when this incident occurred in 1996 or not? Ironically, that news story is how this website of Boatnerd got started and what this website has now become and what it is today for everyone to read and to enjoy!
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The story of the coal cargo catching fire (it actually was coke) was the very first Boatnerd news story as Denny mentioned. It can be found at the bottom of this page: https://boatnerd.com/oldsite/news/archive/8-996.htm

I briefly worked on the Middletown and vaguely recall something about a small coal explosion in the cargo hold. That was the impetus for adding small inspection hatches in some of the hatch covers. We would check for gas levels through the little hatch when loaded with coal. There also may have been another explosion (lights blowing out ??) in the tunnel that injured people on that ship.

I'm sure they'll look to see if the vents were open....or not! Seem to recall the John Hulst with Pittsburg/USS back in the 40's had an explosion while carrying coal. Some of the hatches were twisted and thrown on deck. Believe the culprit was some of the vents weren't opened.

Don’t know IF this qualifies for this subject and topic or not and since we’re talking some on Great Lakes Ships and Coal Cargo Explosion stuff, I’d like to add this piece of info to this thread. In 1996 don’t recall when, maybe in the Summer in July? The H.M. Griffith now Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin was downbound on Lake Superior when she had issues with a coal cargo she was carrying to Nanticoke. The coal started to burn in her cargo holds and a quick rapid decision had to be made at once! It was decided to try and dump and unload a few thousand tons of the burning coal into Lake Superior to avoid further disaster. Fortunately , the plan and idea worked as the Griffith avoided disaster and sailed for a few more seasons afterward before she was rebuilt with a new cargo section in 2000. Had the Griffith then not unloaded part of her coal cargo into Lake Superior, she could’ve suffered a severe casualty then while at sea. Don’t know if anyone recalls or remembers when this incident occurred in 1996 or not? Ironically, that news story is how this website of Boatnerd got started and what this website has now become and what it is today for everyone to read and to enjoy!

Didn't the Middletown suffer a gas explosion that killed several in the engine room many years ago?

Lake boats have carried the same Appalachian coal for years. Have there been any similar methane explosions on the Lakers?

Interesting story from the "what's going on with shipping" website
" What the Ship (Ep 128) | Baltimore Explosion" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmE4X7wi4UQ.
Sal Mercogliano's YouTube channel is really good.

Coal vessel had a hold explosion after loading and heading out of port. Interesting to hear the radio traffic between the pilots on board and the USCG and Baltimore FD.