The Spyros disaster was a major industrial disaster that occurred in Singapore on 12 October 1978, where the GreektankerSpyrosexploded at Jurong Shipyard, killing 76 people and injuring 69 others. It remains the worst accident, in terms of lives lost, in Singapore's post-war history. It is also Singapore's worst industrial accident.[1]
The Spyros was owned by Ulysses Tanker Corporation of Liberia and operated by International Operations, SA. The Liberian-registered vessel was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan in 1964 and was a steam turbine-driven tanker of 64,081 tons deadweight.
On 6 October 1978, the Spyros arrived in Singapore for a full special survey and general repairs at Jurong Shipyard. One of the items for repair was the replacement of the missing cover for the drip tray of the vent pipe leading from the aft starboard fuel oil tank.
Explosion
At around 2:15 p.m., Spyros exploded. The explosion occurred as about 150 workers returned to the engine and boiler rooms of the vessel after their lunch break for repair and cleaning work. A number of the ship's 32 crew were also on board.
The blast flung debris from the 35,600-tonne vessel as far as 100 metres (328 ft) away and started a flash fire that prevented dockside workers from rescuing those trapped inside the ship.
Aftermath
Rescue works
Minutes after the accident, an extensive rescue operation swung into action, involving the police, military and medical services. All hospitals were alerted to be on stand-by for casualties.
Rescue workers went into the ship's engine and boiler rooms to search for missing workers. Eight fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene and after the fire was doused, more rescue workers poured into the ship to help the injured and remove the dead. The injured were ferried to hospital in ambulances and helicopters.
The general public responded with hundreds of people donating blood to victims.[2]
57 workers died on the day of the accident while 19 died due to their injuries in hospitals. Of the 76 deaths, 70 were male, six were female. 69 other workers were injured.[3]
Causes of accident
An inquiry found that safety practices were ignored when repairs were carried out on the vessel. Sparks from the cutting torch used during repairs caused a fire, which ignited an explosive vapour mixture within the aft starboard bunker (fuel) tank of the vessel. The fuel tank had been contaminated by crude oil. The explosion ruptured the common bulkhead between the tank and the engine room, releasing the burning oil into the engine room and setting it on fire, killing the workers there instantly.
Impact
After the accident, greater safety consciousness in the shipbuilding and repairing industry was enforced.[4]
^. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
^"Hundreds join rush to give blood to injured". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^Singapore, National Library Board. "The explosion and fire on board S.T. Spyros, 12th October 1978 : the inquiry report". eservice.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
^"Spyros accident | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
January 15, 2023
spyros, disaster, major, industrial, disaster, that, occurred, singapore, october, 1978, where, greek, tanker, spyros, exploded, jurong, shipyard, killing, people, injuring, others, remains, worst, accident, terms, lives, lost, singapore, post, history, also, . The Spyros disaster was a major industrial disaster that occurred in Singapore on 12 October 1978 where the Greek tanker Spyros exploded at Jurong Shipyard killing 76 people and injuring 69 others It remains the worst accident in terms of lives lost in Singapore s post war history It is also Singapore s worst industrial accident 1 Spyros disasterDateOctober 6 1978 1978 10 06 Time2 15 pm UTC 08 00 VenueSpyrosLocationJurong Shipyard SingaporeCoordinates1 16 48 N 103 38 54 E 1 2800 N 103 6483 E 1 2800 103 6483 Coordinates 1 16 48 N 103 38 54 E 1 2800 N 103 6483 E 1 2800 103 6483TypeexplosionDeaths76Non fatal injuries69 Contents 1 Background 2 Explosion 3 Aftermath 3 1 Rescue works 3 2 Casualties 4 Causes of accident 5 Impact 6 See also 7 ReferencesBackground EditThe Spyros was owned by Ulysses Tanker Corporation of Liberia and operated by International Operations SA The Liberian registered vessel was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan in 1964 and was a steam turbine driven tanker of 64 081 tons deadweight On 6 October 1978 the Spyros arrived in Singapore for a full special survey and general repairs at Jurong Shipyard One of the items for repair was the replacement of the missing cover for the drip tray of the vent pipe leading from the aft starboard fuel oil tank Explosion EditAt around 2 15 p m Spyros exploded The explosion occurred as about 150 workers returned to the engine and boiler rooms of the vessel after their lunch break for repair and cleaning work A number of the ship s 32 crew were also on board The blast flung debris from the 35 600 tonne vessel as far as 100 metres 328 ft away and started a flash fire that prevented dockside workers from rescuing those trapped inside the ship Aftermath EditRescue works Edit Minutes after the accident an extensive rescue operation swung into action involving the police military and medical services All hospitals were alerted to be on stand by for casualties Rescue workers went into the ship s engine and boiler rooms to search for missing workers Eight fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene and after the fire was doused more rescue workers poured into the ship to help the injured and remove the dead The injured were ferried to hospital in ambulances and helicopters The general public responded with hundreds of people donating blood to victims 2 Casualties Edit The wounded were ferried by ambulance and helicopter to Alexandra Hospital and Singapore General Hospital Most of those hospitalised suffered serious burns with their conditions described as critical Others including four firemen were treated for inhalation of toxic gas and shock 57 workers died on the day of the accident while 19 died due to their injuries in hospitals Of the 76 deaths 70 were male six were female 69 other workers were injured 3 Causes of accident EditAn inquiry found that safety practices were ignored when repairs were carried out on the vessel Sparks from the cutting torch used during repairs caused a fire which ignited an explosive vapour mixture within the aft starboard bunker fuel tank of the vessel The fuel tank had been contaminated by crude oil The explosion ruptured the common bulkhead between the tank and the engine room releasing the burning oil into the engine room and setting it on fire killing the workers there instantly Impact EditAfter the accident greater safety consciousness in the shipbuilding and repairing industry was enforced 4 See also EditCollapse of the Hotel New WorldReferences Edit 48 die in ship blast horror Singapore Press Holdings Archived from the original on 12 January 2008 Retrieved 15 January 2008 Hundreds join rush to give blood to injured eresources nlb gov sg Retrieved 19 October 2021 Singapore National Library Board The explosion and fire on board S T Spyros 12th October 1978 the inquiry report eservice nlb gov sg Retrieved 1 October 2018 Spyros accident Infopedia eresources nlb gov sg Retrieved 19 October 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spyros disaster amp oldid 1124268510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
