At the time of the incident the 1985-built ship was on voyage from New York to Punta Cardon in ballast to load a cargo of refined products bound for a US east-coast port.
The dead crew were working on deck at the time of the explosion which also injured four others. Two of the more seriously injured were airlifted to San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the night of 11 January while the other two were evacuated the following morning due to failing light.
Athenian
