Deadly explosion off Nigeria points to threat posed by aging oil ships around the world

An explosion aboard the Trinity Spirit off the coast of Nigeria last year that killed five workers and left two others unaccounted for stands among the deadliest tragedies on an oil ship or platform in recent years. A review by The Associated Press of court documents and ship databases and interviews with crew members reveal that the 46-year-old ship was in a state of near-total disrepair. The Trinity Spirit fits a pattern of old tankers put to work storing and extracting oil even while on the brink of mechanical breakdowns. The AP's review found that at least eight have been shut down after a fire, a major safety hazard, or the death of a worker in the last decade. More than 30 are older than the Trinity Spirit and still storing oil around the world.