Esso under fire over lethal tanker blast

The efforts of the major oil companies to reassure the public in the wake of the tanker accident in the Shetlands that their own vessels are operated to high standards have been dealt a blow by an inquiry into an explosion on an Esso tanker. The inquiry, by the Department of Transport's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), revealed severe flaws in Esso's maintenance, record-keeping, quality control and contractor supervision procedures.¹