Disaster strikes when a tanker is completely destroyed by an explosion at sea. Jeff becomes worried about the launch of a second tanker but soon International Rescue faces another disaster; a communications blackout...

Ocean Pioneer I, a tanker ship containing a cargo of highly combustible liquid alsterene, is traveling through the Mediterranean Sea. Both Captain Johnson and the commander believe that this is the first in what will become the most modern fleet in the world, needing only a crew of three. Collins, the third member, discovers that the reactor is overcompensating and is forced to control it manually. The ship heads into an area of mist, unmentioned in the weather report. Suddenly the ship explodes for no apparent reason, leaving the once mighty Ocean Pioneer I nothing more than drifting wreckage on the sea.

Crowds gather for the launch of Ocean Pioneer II at Port London by Lady Penelope. While Lord Worden takes her to her position, Parker enjoys a bottle of champagne in FAB 1 with another chauffeur. After a speech, Penelope swings another bottle into Ocean Pioneer II and it slides down a ramp into the water. During an interview with a TV reporter she confesses that the bottle's bang was not as big as she expected. Returning to FAB 1 she finds Parker drunk with the real champagne having switched it; it was water that hit the ship!

Penelope radios Jeff to tell him that her search of the ship has found no trace of sabotage, her launching of the ship being simply a cover for this, and she believes the ship is in no danger. Jeff is still worried that it could run into trouble. John calls in from Thunderbird 5 to report that a hospital on Oahu in the Pacific Ocean has been hit by a typhoon, endangering the patients. Scott departs immediately and requests that Virgil follows in Thunderbird 2 with Pod 3 and Gordon.

Soon, however, interference is blocking any calls to Thunderbirds 1, 2 and 5, leaving International Rescue vulnerable. Brains deduces that it is the transmissions through Thunderbird 5 that are affected and so he and Alan travel there in Thunderbird 3. Brains makes a recording of the interference noise there and John escorts him back to Earth as Alan was due to take over on the space station anyway.

Thunderbird 1 returns to Tracy Island heard by Jeff who operates the swimming pool. Scott reports that the rescue was a success; only the isolation ward of the hospital collapsed and no one was in it at the time. As Jeff watches the latest telecast on Ocean Pioneer II, Thunderbird 2 lands. After Thunderbird 3 lands, Brains and Tin-Tin begin to experiment with the interference noise. The captain of Ocean Pioneer II orders his No. 2 to set the ship on auto as it heads towards the Mediterranean.

Jeff is called to the laboratory where Brains has discovered the cause of the interference. Tin-Tin sets up two test tubes, A and B, in an enclosed chamber. When robotic arms hold them close they block radio waves on International Rescue's bandwidth causing the interference noise. Finally they get to close causing an explosion. A is alsterene, the cargo of the Pioneer, while B is OD60, a sea fungus found in the Gulf Stream used to make dog food for the Allpets company. Tin-Tin suggests sending Penelope to check if any could have got into the Mediterranean, as she was the judge of a competition for Allpets. The Pioneer is meanwhile heading into an area of mist and interference blocks all radio transmissions.

Penelope meets Sir Arthur, the head of Allpets. After her promise of secrecy, he explains how transporting OD60 from the American coast is too expensive and Allpets have tried to develop a colony in the Mediterranean but are not sure if it has flourished yet. Penelope reports this to Tracy Island but Scott is unable to contact the ship. Realizing that the crew will not be able to make a distress call, he heads off in Thunderbird 1 while Virgil and John take off in Thunderbird 2.

On Ocean Pioneer II, the reactor is beginning to overcompensate and the ship's speed is increasing dangerously. Lt. Jensen lowers the radiation shields and the captain sounds a radiation hazard siren. The reactor explodes, leaving most of the ship undamaged. However, the crew are now sealed on the bridge with the air conditioning cut off.

Thunderbird 1 approaches and Scott manages to land it on the Pioneer's deck. The crew are losing consciousness due to oxygen starvation. In a protective suit, Scott stands outside the bridge and tries to send a message through the walls but the crew are out cold. After a long search and navigation assistance from Scott, Virgil is able to locate the ship in the fog. John is lowered onto the deck from Thunderbird 2 on a ladder, also in protective clothing. Scott cuts through the door to the bridge. The water is beginning to bubble alarmingly and Scott theorizes that they are right over the OD60. He resuscitates the crew as John navigates Thunderbird 2 into a position to pick up the crew. After briefly being caught in the mast, he lowers the ladder and pulls the crew and John away to safety. Thunderbird 1 begins to take off as explosions ravage the deck. Suddenly there is one colossal explosion and the whole ship is destroyed.

Virgil and John are having trouble contacting Scott and fear for his safety. Suddenly he comes through on the radio having escaped the fate of the Pioneer. Back at Tracy Island, John argues that they should have tried saving the ship as well by towing it out. Jeff reminds him that the purpose of International Rescue is to save lives before returning to his book.

Verdict: A strong episode with some particularly effective sequences set in the mist. A ship slowly heading towards disaster provides a good subject for a rescue. It is, however, a little convenient that the OD60 should disrupt Interntional Rescue's communications, thereby alerting them to the danger.

Broadcast information: Broadcast on BBC 2 on Tuesday 6^th February 2001 at 6:00 pm and on Saturday 10^th January 2001.

DVD availability: On Volume 5 and the Complete Box Set.

VHS availability: On Volume 10, the Pod 2 Box Set and the Complete Box Set.