The 570-foot long Singapore-flagged tanker Bow Mariner was built by a Yugoslavian shipyard in 1982.  Constructed with 28 separate tanks, she displaced 39,821 dead-weight tons, was owned by Odfjell ASA, and was managed by Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises of Greece. 

The Bow Mariner departed Linden, New Jersey for Texas City, Texas on February 28, 2004, carrying 3.5 million gallons of ethanol – a combination of ethane, a natural gas used as a fuel and refrigerant, and alcohol.  The ship also carried 48,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 193,000 gallons of fuel oil.  At approximately 6:00 PM, an explosion rocked the tanker and ignited a violent fire.  Out of a 27-man crew, there were only 6 survivors. 

The explosion must have breached the tanker's hull, as the ship began to sink by the bow.  At 7:30 PM, the ship slipped beneath the surface.  The wreck of the Bow Mariner now rests in approximately 260 feet of water 48 miles from Ocean City, Maryland, and 52 miles from Chincoteague, Virginia.  Sitting upright, the top of the bridge should come within 140 feet of the surface.