MV Arctic Wind; Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Aleutian Island chain

Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Aleutian Island chain | 2000-May-31

Initial Notification: The US Coast Guard seized a fishing vessel of Asian design and Honduras registry, the M/V Arctic Wind, on the high seas south of the Aleutians. The vessel was fishing illegally. Upon seizure, the vessel was directed to Dutch Harbor, where it was turned over to NMFS which wanted the refrigeration system, containing 7000 lbs of ammonia, remediated before taking the vessel to Seward. NOAA HAZMAT become involved when MSD Unalaska contacted the NOAA SSC in Anchorage for advice on whether a water or air release of this ammonia was better. The vessel is in good mechanical condition, and can sail under its own power. The systems on the vessel are generally in good working order, a fact that was confirmed when MSD Unalaska transmitted several digital photos of the refrigeration system. The question of a potential release was put to experts at NOAA HAZMAT in Seattle, as well as to A.J. St. Germain, a member of the CG Pacific Strike Force team with considerable experience dealing with these issues. After a round-table email discussion among these folks and ammonia experts with the UNOCAL urea plant in Nikiski, serious questions were raised about the possible effects and the need for any release of the ammonia, whether in water or in the air. In the end, it was determined that the risks of releasing the ammonia were greater than the risks of leaving the ammonia intact aboard the vessel while it was transitted to Seward. Crew members aboard the Arctic Wind were fully advised of the situation and the need to be on the look-out for any possible ammonia leaks in transit. The vessel was successfully escorted to Seward with no further problems. USCG district 17.