SEALAND Propane Tk; Kodiak, AK

Kodiak, AK | 2000-Mar-15

Initial Notification: The Coast Guard at MSO Anchorage received a report last evening (3/15) that a propane cylinder aboard a SeaLand vessel docked in Kodiak seemed to have a damaged valve and was perceptibly leaking. While enroute from Anchorage to Kodiak, the container vessel encountered huge seas which caused the 40' long x 7' diameter propane cylinder on the main deck to move within its steel framework skeleton. The damage was noted while off loading containers at the Kodiak SeaLand dock facility, which is located in Kodiak harbor a few miles south of the town of Kodiak and a couple miles north of the airport. The movement of the propane cylinder had broken welds in the framework and bent some I-beams such that the valve was in jeopardy. A smell of mercaptan ( mixed with propane since it has a very offensive odor) could be detected close to the tank and an explosive meter, operated by the Kodiak Fire Dept, gave a reading of 10% of the LEL 5-10' from the valve. USCG district 17.