M/V SHELDON LYKES; Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia | 1990-Dec-15

Initial Notification: The NRC was notified on Saturday (12/15) that the M/V Sheldon Lykes, a container vessel, was experiencing an uncontrolled leak of potentially poisonous chemicals (acrid fumes) emanating from the number 4 hold. The vessel is currently underway to Norfolk, VA. Its ETA Norfolk is 0600 12/18. There are 34 crew on board the vessel. No casualities have been reported. Current plans are for the vessel to proceed to the Cape Henry area (Lynnhaven North) and remain in the area just outside the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel. (This area is depicted on NOAA chart 12222). Current NOAA involvement: . Gary Ott, mid-Atlantic SSC, is on-scene at MSO Hampton Roads and is working with the Coast Guard to better identify the cargo and its toxicity threat. Current concerns are contamination of foodstuffs onboard the vessel and crew exposure. . MASS is providing the SSC with on-scene weather and winds forecasts. . Dr. Ed Overton, LSU chemistry department, is working with marine chemists representing the shipper (Peterson Marine) to assure that the appropriate chemical detection and monitoring measures are employed. . CDC (ATSDR) has been notified of the incident. USCG district 5.