Explosion on Board PEMEX Tanker QUETZACOATL Kills Six

On Tuesday, an explosion which occurred aboard a Pemex tankship during repairs to the vessel’s crane has resulted in the deaths of at least six workers. Two others are reported missing and eleven more are injured, according to state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). The accident took place in the Gulf port of Coatzacoulcas in the Pajaritos petrochemical complex, where the M/T “QUETZACOUTL” was receiving repairs to its crane. According to the Pemex news release, a spark entered an empty cargo tank and the flammable atmosphere from the tank residues creating the blast.



Pemex reported that the repair work was being performed by a company contractor. The dead included three of the contractor’s employees and three directly employed by PEMEX. The statement also said that PEMEX regretted the accident and was addressing the situation with the support of local municipal civil defense and harbor administration personnel. Injured workers were taken to either the regional hospital in Minatitlan or the Nanchital clinic, run by Pemex.