- WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Two
seamen died and 19 were missing on Saturday after a chemical tanker carrying
11,000 tons of ethanol exploded and sank 50 miles off the Virginia coast,
the U.S. Coast Guard said.
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- The Bow Mariner, traveling from New York to Houston,
Texas, caught fire and exploded at roughly 6 p.m. off Chincoteague, northern
Virginia, and rescuers launched a massive search for survivors, said Lt.
Bobby Dye.
-
- "We're being hampered by the dark and of course
the chemicals in the water, but the sea conditions are not too bad,"
he said, adding that six crew were safe.
-
- The crew of the Singapore-flagged vessel were believed
to be Filipino and Greek.
-
- Industrial ethanol is used as a solvent in the manufacture
of varnishes and perfumes; as a preservative; in the preparation of essences
and flavorings; in many medicines and drugs; and as a fuel and gasoline
additive.
-
- Dye said the environmental impact of the accident was
very much on the Coast Guard's mind, but the first priority was trying
to save the missing seamen. Two helicopters, a plane and a number of vessels
were involved in the search.
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