MV Reliance; Guam

Guam | 2000-Mar-22

Initial Notification: NOAA HAZMAT was notified at 19:00 PST 3/20/00 (13:00 Guam Standard Time (GST), 3/21/00) of an apparent leak of chlorine on-board the M/V Reliance enroute to Guam. ETA of the vessel was 20:00 GST 3/21. The Master reported that on 3/19, he and the First Mate found a greenish liquid on the deck outside the container during routine inspection. The leaking container is located on starboard deck with three other containers stacked on top. The First Mate made a Level B inspection of the container and found approximately one liter of greenish liquid on the floor of container. The ships manifest indicates that this container carried one hundred and thirty 150# chlorine cylinders, two 2,000# chlorine cylinders and several empty oxygen cylinders. After arriving at Guam on 3/21, the vessel maintained position off Apra Harbor. A shuttle transported CG pollution investigators and a hazmat team to board the vessel. A Level B entry made by Island Equipment personnel (owner of chlorine cylinders) identified the presence of chlorine vapor by using ammonia spray and the presence of a hissing noise. The cylinders storage within the container appeared to be normal and secure. The vessel remains approximately 3 nm off the entrance to Apra Harbor. USCG district 7.