METULA IN LISBON PORT: VARIOUS SHOTS OF DECK, INCLUDING SECTION CONTAINING THE VITAL CENTRE TANK.




Initials TS/V/MR/BJ



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Background: SHELL INTERNATIONAL MARINE-- THE COMPANY WHICH HAS LOST ONE 200-THOUSAND- TON OIL TANKER AND HAS HAD A SERIOUS EXPLOSION IN A SECOND -- IS TO USE THE SISTER SHIP OF THE TWO HIT BY EXPLOSIONS AS "GUINEA PIG" TO TRY AND FIND THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTERS. THE "GUINEA PIG" SHIP WILL BE THE METULA, ALSO 200-THOUSAND TONS, WHICH IS INSURED FOR GBP7-MILLION STERLING.

THE METULA WILL CARRY OUT TEST UNDER NORMAL TANK-CLEANING CONDITIONS, TO TRY AND CREATE A SPARK WHICH MUST HAVE IGNITED THE EXPLOSION IN THE ILL-FATED MARPESSA AND ALSO IN THE MANTRA, THE METULA'S 200-THOUSAND-TON SISTER SHIPS.

THE METULA, WHICH COSTS SOME GBP10-THOUSAND STERLING A DAY TO RUN, WILL BE ENGAGED IN THE TESTS OFF DAKAR, IN SENEGAL, FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. SHELL SAY THEY HOPE TO CREATE AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT CAUSING A FURTHER DISASTER, THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EXPLOSIONS IN THE CENTRE TANKS BADLY DAMAGED THE MANTRA AND SENT THE MARPESSA TO THE BOTTOM.