SS Green Hill Park Disaster in Vancouver Explained

The SS Green Hill Park disaster was a tragic maritime accident that occurred in Vancouver. The ship, a passenger vessel, was traveling from the port of Vancouver to the nearby city of Nanaimo.

The Green Hill Park disaster was a significant event in Canadian maritime history. It happened on a stormy night in May 1941.

The ship was carrying a large number of passengers and crew members, and many of them lost their lives in the disaster. The exact number of fatalities is not certain, but it's estimated to be around 30 people.

The SS Green Hill Park disaster highlights the importance of maritime safety and the need for vigilance in harsh weather conditions.

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The Green Hill Park Explosion was a devastating event that occurred on March 6, 1945, at the CPR dock on the Coal Harbour waterfront in Vancouver.

Eight longshoremen were killed in the disaster, which was the worst in Vancouver's history at the time. The explosion also injured 19 other workers, seven firemen, and shattered hundreds of windows in downtown Vancouver.

The Greenhill Park was carrying 85 tonnes of sodium chlorate, a component in fertilizer and explosives, which ignited when the flames reached it. This caused a massive explosion that shattered windows all over downtown.

Flames shot up 100 feet in the air as the explosions of the chemicals set off some of the ship's ammunition, sending ship flares soaring into the sky in an awesome display of grim fireworks. Exploding cargo rained down from the sky for 15 minutes, with pickles falling like green hail.

The cargo list on the ill-fated ship included lumber, newsprint, tin plates, pickles, cloth, sunglasses, lamps, light bulbs, books, radio equipment, and knitting needles. The destructive part of the cargo was the sodium chlorate, six tonnes of signal flares, and several barrels of "over proof" whisky.

A 1,500-page report concluded that the explosion resulted from "improper stowage of combustible, dangerous and explosive material… and the ignition thereof by a lighted match." A lit match ignited some spilled whisky, causing the explosion.