Burned fishing vessel poses Alaska spill threat
Date: 20-Nov-02
Country: USA
Author: Yereth Rosen
"It's pretty beat up, so the holds have been compromised," said Leslie Pearson, an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation manager.
The U.S. Coast Guard was coordinating the cleanup in consultation with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
So far, crews have removed about 7,000 gallons (31,820 litres) of diesel fuel, lube oil and other liquids from the battered ship, the 97-foot (30-metre) Genei Maru No. 7, but almost 5,000 gallons remain on board, Pearson said.
The ship grounded at Afognak Island on Nov. 10. Afognak Island is part of the Kodiak archipelago, a series of islands famous for huge brown bears, rich salmon runs and rain-drenched forests.
A Coast Guard crew smelled oil and spotted an oily sheen on the water, so it is likely that the ship had spilled much of its fuel by the time it was spotted eight days ago, Pearson said.
But officials were unsure how much fuel and oil the vessel had been carrying, she said. "We're trying to reconcile the logs that are on the vessel. They're all in Japanese," she said.
The owner, KK Yamatsu Anichi Shoten, has assumed responsibility for the cleanup, Pearson said. So far, the cost has tallied $335,000, she added.
TONNES OF ROTTING SQUID
The ship, a squid catcher, caught fire in mid-May, and another fishing vessel rescued its crew members, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Genei Maru then sank, according to reports made by its owner. The incidents happened outside of U.S. waters, so its crew and owners did not request any Coast Guard assistance at the time.
But the ship was spotted periodically drifting in the ocean, and was last seen on Oct. 15 in the Gulf of Alaska before grounding at on Afognak Island's rocks, the Coast Guard said.
So far, the shoreline and area wildlife have not been affected, said Coast Guard Lt. Chris Friese, chief of operations for the response. The surf is active, breaking up any spilled fuel, and the liquids that have been discharged appear to have been drifting away from shore, he said.
In addition to remaining fuel oil, the Genei Maru poses a threat because of its load of rotting squid, the Coast Guard said. The material could emit hydrogen sulfide and methane gasses, the Coast Guard said.
The owner has estimated that the ship is carrying two tons of the fish, Friese said. That load has not been confirmed because cleanup workers have not yet opened up the ship's refrigerated area he said.
Pearson said she did not know how long it would take to do an adequate cleanup and recovery.
"Right now, the emphasis is on getting the pollution off," she said. "I'd like to think that, hopefully, by the end of the week we'll have the pollution abated."
After that, it will be up to the owner company to salvage the vessel from the Afognak Island shoreline, she said.