Ryuyo Maru No. 2; Village Cove, St. Paul Island, Bering Sea, Alaska

Village Cove, St. Paul Island, Bering Sea, Alaska | 1979-Nov-08

Initial Notification: On November 8, 1979, the fishing vessel Ryuyo Maru No. 2 grounded in 60-knot winds and 30-foot seas in Village Cove, St. Paul Island, Bering Sea, Alaska. The vessel initially spilled about 950 barrels of light oil and continued to leak for the duration of the incident. An initial survey found nine of 12 tanks holed. The ship's refrigeration system failed, releasing toxic levels of ammonia gas in the interior. Access to the vessel was complicated by the rough seas and a 200-foot high cliff at the grounding site. A makeshift, 90-foot highline was rigged from the base of the cliff to the ship. The only alternative mode of access was by helicopter, which was not always available because of weather. The Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office (MSO), Anchorage, the predesignated On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) for the spill, sent a representative to the site on November 9. The owners of the vessel initially assumed responsibility for cleanup operations, but abandoned their responsibility on November 15, at which time the OSC took full control of the spill response. Explosives were used to vent dangerous accumulations of ammonia gas on November 20, and also to finally destroy the vessel on November 22. The response ended on December 5. USCG district 17. Keyword: Pacific Strike Team (PST), U. S. Naval Explosive Ordinance Detachment (EOD), Crowley Environmental Services, adverse weather conditions, manual removal, sorbents, boom, low pressure washing, demolition, toxic fumes, remote response..