All Alaskan; Unimak Pass, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Unimak Pass, Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 1994-Jul-24

Initial Notification: On Sunday morning, July 24, 1994, a fire broke out in the fore section hold of the fish processor All Alaskan, a 350-foot vessel processing salmon. The vessel was approximately 10 miles west of Cape Sarichef on the western side of Unimak Island and riding in relatively calm seas. At the time of the fire, the vessel was carrying 126,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 7 bottles of acetylene, 12 bottles of oxygen, 10,000 gallons of lube oil, 8 drums of hydraulic oil, 2 drums of gasoline, and 38,000 pounds of ammonia. After the initial diesel release on July 24, additional oil pollution was considered a low probability as the integrity of the fuel tanks and hull were not threatened by the fire. The USCG responded to what was initially a search and rescue mission. They safely rescued all but one crewmember who, unfortunately, was killed while fighting the fire. The fire caused the failure of a 10,000-gallon diesel day tank on the fore deck and the explosion, release, and fire of most of the 38,000 pounds of ammonia. The diesel release resulted in a reported 8-mile long sheen that dissipated within 12 hours. To move the vessel from the sensitive resources in Unimak Pass, a bridle was fitted to the stern of the All Alaskan and she was slowly towed westward to deeper water in case scuttling became necessary. The fire subsided by Monday, July 25 but continued smoldering in the fore peak holds of the vessel. Three USCG cutters and several members of the Pacific Strike Team went to the scene to assist. On July 26 the vessel was brought into Captain's Bay at Dutch Harbor where the fire was completely extinguished and the vessel was thoroughly evaluated. One bottle of ammonia was found slowly leaking after the vessel reached port; the rest were believed lost while the vessel was burning at sea. As the vessel cooled down and aired out, the response phase was replaced with a vessel integrity evaluation phase done primarily by the U. S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and representatives of the vessel. USCG district 17. Keyword: none.