The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "supertanker" ...
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LNG: Analyzing risk
This ongoing investigation examines the potential risks of damage from a liquified natural gas supertanker or onshore facility. The Register's research, analyzed with help from those in the academic community, showed that if such a supertanker caught fire, the blaze would be much, much larger than what federal documents and officials have suggested. Federal officials also conceded that a certain type of flammable insulation is commonly used on the supertankers, despite earlier assertions to the contrary.
Tags: LNG; liquified natural gas; supertanker; shipping; environmental risk; public safety
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The New Supertanker Plague
Hundreds of oil-bearing ships have faced destruction in the form of "super rust," a virulent form of corrosion that is "the inevitable result when unforgiving chemistry meets the harsh economics and tangled industry politics of transporting fossil fuels." Wired Magazine examines the root causes of such "hyper-accelerated corrosion," and determines among other things that proper maintenance in re-coating the steel ships would effectively combat the problem. However, "first-class ship maintenance has become increasingly rare," as ships change hands frequently, and find themselves in the hands of owners who "tend to be less interested in maintaining their vessels than maximizing the return on their investments." The article details the scientific processes of corrosion, examines the recent history and challenges facing supertankers, and investigates where the industry -- and its aging ships -- might be headed.
Tags: oil; petroleum; supertankers; super tankers; tankers; ships; rust; corrosion; Erika; Castor; Valdez; shipping; transport