Auke Visser´s ESSO Tankvaart Mij. Site     |   home
Krantenartikelen / Articles, The New York Times and Others
FIRE IN AN OIL STEAMER'S BUNKERS
The New York Times, January 26, 1896, Wednesday

The Bremerhaven Puts into New-York Harbor for Repairs.

The Bremerhaven, an oil tank steamer, commanded by Capt. Ninnes, put into this port yesterday as a result of ha-ving had fire in her coal bunkers.
The Bremerhaven left Baltimore Jan. 18, bound for Antwerp, laden with 1,300.000 gallons of oil and 2.000 empty barrels.
When 300 miles northeast of Cape Henry, at 9 o'clock last Monday night, a, stoker gave the alarm that a fire had started in the coal bunkers.
All hands were called out to fight the fire. Capt. Ninnes divided his crew into two gangs, one of which went below to fight the fire, and the other made the boat ready for leaving- the vessel by placing provisions aboard them.
"When the boats had been made ready all turned their attention to the fire and by great efforts It was gotten under control after it had been battled with for thirty-six hours, the steamer meanwhile tossing about In a fierce northeast gale. The coal bunkers are separated from the oil tanks by narrow air chambers. Inclosed by iron partitions. Had the fire obtained sufficient headway to heat the partitions to a great degree the oil would have taken fire and the vessel been doomed, for an explosion would surely have followed.
With a knowledge of the desperate position In which they were placed, the Captain and his crew did not relax their efforts until a complete victory had been obtained over the fire.
Before any effect of the heroic work was perceptible the engine and boiler rooms were half filled with water.
After the fire had been extinguished the water was pumped out of the bunkers, engine and fire rooms, steam was gotten up, and the vessel headed for this port.
She arrived here yesterday morning, and, was taken over to Bayonne, N.J., to the works of the Standard Oil Com-pany, where needed repairs will be made.
The Bremerhaven is an iron ship 365 feet long, 46 feet beam, and of 1.731 tons. She Is owned by the American Petroleum, Company, and plies between Baltimore and Antwerp.