By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 3 -- Virginia and Maryland officials are watching a 6 mile fuel oil slick 50 miles off Virginia that occurred Saturday night following the explosion and sinking of the Bow Mariner tanker that left three crewmen dead and 18 missing.
The tanker, en route to Houston from New York, was carrying 3.5 million gal of ethanol, 200,000 gal of fuel oil, and 48,000 gal of diesel fuel. Officials said the ethanol would dissipate but the oil slick could be of concern if winds shift to the east.
Six of the vessel's 27 crewmen were rescued Saturday night and three bodies recovered, but search efforts—called off Monday—failed to find the 18 other crewmen missing and feared dead in the 44° F. water.
Coast Guard officials, who said initial reports were of a "horrendous explosion" in the ship's bow where the six ethanol tanks were located, added that the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
Norway's Odfjell ASA owns the vessel, which is managed by the Greek firm Ceres Hellenic shipping Enterprises.