Barge Great Alaskan; Captain's Bay, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska

Captain's Bay, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska | 1986-Dec-22

Initial Notification: On December 22, 1986, a fire broke out aboard the barge Great Alaskan, a 499-gross ton, 150-foot fish processing barge owned and operated by Ursin Seafood, Kodiak, Alaska, while the vessel was moored in Captain's Bay, Unalaska. At the time of the fire, the vessel was carrying 16,000 gallons of diesel fuel, three drums of gasoline, ten drums of oil, two 25-pound bottles of chlorine, 1500 pounds of ammonia in the barge refrigeration system, and ten 150-pound cylinders of ammonia stored separately from the refrigeration system. Initially, the Dutch Harbor Fire Department and the tug Padilla attempted to extinguish the fire. In response to a reported ammonia leak, the Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator established a 1,000 yard safety zone around the OSI dock where the Great Alaskan was moored. At 1400 on December 22, the Coast Guard in Anchorage was advised by on-scene personnel that the fire was extinguished and smoldering. However, the fire reflashed one hour later and burned out of control. This time, the fire department allowed the vessel to burn rather than hazard personnel. at 1510, a major explosion occurred, resulting in a six by eight foot hole in the vessel's side above the waterline. USCG district 17.