SS El Estero
Encyclopedia
The SS El Estero was an antiquated freighter of Panamanian registry that was kept in service carrying war supplies from the United States to Europe during World War II
, including participation in Convoy PQ 13 in March 1942. On April 24, 1943, she had completed taking on 1,365 tons of ammunition and bombs when a fire broke out in her engine compartment. Two other loaded ammunition ships were tied up near her at Caven Point pier 40.6815°N 74.067°W in Bayonne, New Jersey
, across the New York Harbor
from Manhattan
and Brooklyn
. Including loaded railroad cars that were on the pier, over 5000 tons of explosives, comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon
, could have been detonated in a potential explosion and flattened everything in a 5-mile radius.
The fire began shortly before 5:30 pm, when a boiler flashback ignited oil on top of the water in the ship's bilge, and quickly spread. Five fire trucks from the Jersey City Fire Department and two 30-foot fireboats from the U.S. Coast Guard arrived by 5:35 pm, followed by about 60 volunteers from the Coast Guard. By 6:30 pm, New York City's much larger fireboats John J. Harvey and Fire Fighter arrived and ran hoses to Coast Guardsmen on the burning ship. The location of the fire prevented access to seacock
s and valves needed to scuttle the ship, so she was towed to a more isolated location near Robbins Reef Light in Upper New York Bay
. There the fireboats continued to pour water into her until she settled to the bottom, shortly after 9 pm. By 11:30 pm, all fires were extinguished and the Fire Fighter and John J. Harvey returned to their docks. There were no fatalities resulting from the fire.
A few months later the U.S. Navy raised the still-loaded El Estero and towed her out to sea where she was used for target practice. In August 1943, after the near disaster, the Navy began construction of a new ammunition depot in New Jersey, now Naval Weapons Station Earle
. The facility includes a 2.9-mile pier in Sandy Hook Bay designed to move the hazardous activity away from densely populated areas. Over half a century later, both the Fire Fighter and John J. Harvey, the latter then a museum ship, helped fight fires at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including participation in Convoy PQ 13 in March 1942. On April 24, 1943, she had completed taking on 1,365 tons of ammunition and bombs when a fire broke out in her engine compartment. Two other loaded ammunition ships were tied up near her at Caven Point pier 40.6815°N 74.067°W in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, across the New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
from Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. Including loaded railroad cars that were on the pier, over 5000 tons of explosives, comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon
Tactical nuclear weapon
A tactical nuclear weapon refers to a nuclear weapon which is designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations. This is as opposed to strategic nuclear weapons which are designed to menace large populations, to damage the enemy's ability to wage war, or for general deterrence...
, could have been detonated in a potential explosion and flattened everything in a 5-mile radius.
The fire began shortly before 5:30 pm, when a boiler flashback ignited oil on top of the water in the ship's bilge, and quickly spread. Five fire trucks from the Jersey City Fire Department and two 30-foot fireboats from the U.S. Coast Guard arrived by 5:35 pm, followed by about 60 volunteers from the Coast Guard. By 6:30 pm, New York City's much larger fireboats John J. Harvey and Fire Fighter arrived and ran hoses to Coast Guardsmen on the burning ship. The location of the fire prevented access to seacock
Seacock
A seacock is a valve on the hull of a boat, permitting water to flow into the boat, such as for cooling an engine or for a salt water faucet; or out of the boat, such as for a sink drain or a toilet....
s and valves needed to scuttle the ship, so she was towed to a more isolated location near Robbins Reef Light in Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay, or Upper Bay, is the traditional heart of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and often called New York Harbor. It is enclosed by the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island and the Hudson County, New Jersey municipalities of Jersey City and Bayonne.It...
. There the fireboats continued to pour water into her until she settled to the bottom, shortly after 9 pm. By 11:30 pm, all fires were extinguished and the Fire Fighter and John J. Harvey returned to their docks. There were no fatalities resulting from the fire.
A few months later the U.S. Navy raised the still-loaded El Estero and towed her out to sea where she was used for target practice. In August 1943, after the near disaster, the Navy began construction of a new ammunition depot in New Jersey, now Naval Weapons Station Earle
Naval Weapons Station Earle
Naval Weapons Station Earle is a United States Navy base in New Jersey. Its distinguishing feature is a 2.9-mile pier in Sandy Hook Bay where ammunition can be loaded and unloaded from warships at a safe distance from land....
. The facility includes a 2.9-mile pier in Sandy Hook Bay designed to move the hazardous activity away from densely populated areas. Over half a century later, both the Fire Fighter and John J. Harvey, the latter then a museum ship, helped fight fires at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
See also
- Halifax ExplosionHalifax ExplosionThe Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
, a 1917 ammunition ship explosion involving less explosives that killed over 2000 people - Black Tom ExplosionBlack Tom explosionThe Black Tom explosion on July 30, 1916 in Jersey City, New Jersey was an act of sabotage on American ammunition supplies by German agents to prevent the materiel from being used by the Allies in World War I.- Black Tom Island :...
- Port Chicago disasterPort Chicago disasterThe Port Chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on July 17, 1944, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California, United States. Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the Pacific Theater of Operations, killing 320 sailors and...