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T/V Bow-Mariner

The Chemical Tanker, Bow-Mariner, experienced a fire and explosion and 
sank at 37-53N and 074-15W at approx. 1930 hours 28 Feb, some 50NM off 
the Virginia coast.  The vessel's cargo is reported to be some 1150 mt 
of industrial ethanol.  The vessel would have also gone down with some 
700 mt of #6 fuel oil.

Initial thoughts are that the cargo and fuel would not be an immediate 
danger to Search and Rescue forces with the possible exception of the 
exposure of a rescue swimmer who might go into the water during a 
recovery effort.

However, estimates of the speed in which cargo, ethanol, would de-solve 
into the water column under these conditions is under way.  This 
estimate and a trajectory estimate of spilled products will follow 
shortly.