On April 16, 1947 the French registered SS Grandcarro was unloading 2300 tonnes of Ammonium nitrate in the US port of Texas City. Without warning it exploded, causing massive damage to the city centre, killing 581 people and injuring thousands. It was the worst industrial accident in United States history to that time.
A subsequent enquiry could not determine the exact cause of the explosion, but it was surmised that a worker lighting an illicit cigarette was the most probable cause.
The residents of Newcastle would do well to Google that accident - and reflect on the MCP Kopenhagen which is riding at anchor directly off that port - and is loaded with 3000 tonnes of Ammonium nitrate. This ship has an appalling safety record and an inspection revealed faulty fire safety equipment, broken navigational aids and a malfunctioning sewerage system. This is an old ship long past it's seaworthy days, being used as an offshore storage facility.
They might also ponder the wisdom of turning Ammonium nitrate into industrial explosives for the Australian mining industry at the Orica plant on Kooragang island. Kooragang island is one of the main industrial centres for hazardous material manufacturing in Australia, but some would doubt the wisdom of siting an explosives factory in other than a remote location well removed from other industry or housing.
The Kopenhagen sitting at anchor offshore is to relieve pressure while the Orica plant is undergoing maintenance, but it should be noted that this ship loaded the Ammonium nitrate in Newcastle and will enter port and unload it's cargo again - when that maintenance is complete. It also raises the issue of regular shipments of this dangerous chemical passing through Newcastle and being shipped out in finished form once it passes through the Orica plant process.
There is no easy answer to this problem. If this was a new plant being processed through the system it would probably not be allowed to be established on Kooragang island, but if regulations forced it to be relocated - it would probably go offshore, to where cheaper labour would contain costs and some governments would not be too fussy about dangers to their citizens.
At least Newcastle residents can be aware of what is involved in processing Ammonium nitrate - and make their own decisions about where to buy a house or seek employment, with that danger in mind. What happened in Texas city in 1947 would be a reminder of what can happen if just one worker breaks safety rules!
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