I don't think any of you mentioned it but the ship was Houston-bound. I believe
I once worked on it 15-20 years ago, when it was about new. But I may have it
confused with any of the other number of Bow-somethings vessels out there, a
few of which I'd worked on.

Appareently it was under Norwegian charter from a Greek company. Here's a photo
of it during better times:

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/stat.../01/881353.htm

The electric motors for the pumps, although sealed, are elevated above the
deck. Now, if they had a pump itself raised out of the tank, leaving an open
access to the tank, and then there was a static electricity discharge
downwind...

I don't think ethanol is used in our gasoline in Texas, but it may be mixed
here at one of the several refineries, before being sent to California.

I'm wondering what the ethanol is doing off the east coast. I thought the stuff
was made in the Midwest.

By the way... It takes more energy to make ethanol that the resulting ethanol
can deliver. It's a corn subsidy thing. Pay the farmers to plant all the same
stuff, so we have to import what we really need.

Bill, K5BY
Houston/Galveston area