The U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the city of Unalaska established a unified command in response to potential pollution from the "Akutan" near Unalaska, Alaska, on Aug 18, 2017. Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, the State of Alaska, the city of Unalaska and Resolve Marine Services, were coordinating and overseeing the removal of environmental hazards, including anhydrous ammonia and various petroleum products onboard the fishing vessel. The unified command determined the steps taken by the vessel owner and operator as inadequate to prevent a potential pollution incident. The fishing vessel began transiting to Dutch Harbor from Bristol Bay earlier this month. Due to various mechanical issues the vessel anchored in Captains Bay where it remained, deteriorating. As a precaution Resolve Marine Services, working on contract through the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, placed 400 feet of boom around the hull and has their vessel, Makushin Bay, currently standing by in Captains Bay. Resolve Marine Services also conducted limited maintenance operations on the Akutan and supplied enough fuel to the vessel to keep vital systems running. Without these systems, it was anticipated the vessel will sink. Responders were continuously monitoring levels of anhydrous ammonia and removing various petroleum products from the vessel. 5,000 gallons of oily water from the engine room bilge and 1,200 gallons of oily mixture from one of the slop tanks were removed Fon Aug 18 and 19. On Aug 19 the fishing vessel lost electrical power causing the levels of anhydrous ammonia to rise. Responders and "Akutan" crewmembers were able to restore power to the vessel and control anhydrous ammonia levels. Two Resolve Marine Services personnel are staying onboard the vessel with a four-person crew and a small boat has been moored alongside the "Akutan" in case of emergency.
WORLD SHIPPING
25 August 2017 - 16:00
Update: 25 August 2017 - 21:28
Multiagency response to fishing vessel
Multiagency response to fishing vessel
WORLD SHIPPING
25 August 2017 - 16:00
Update: 25 August 2017 - 21:28
This news 3408 hits received.
EDITOR
These news may also interest you