Emergency crews in Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. continue to battle a blaze onboard the Trident Seafoods catcher-processor Kodiak Enterprise.
The fire began around 3 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, 8 April, and firefighters were still battling small spot fires on the vessel as of Wednesday, 12 April. The Tacoma Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology, Trident Seafoods, and Puyallup Tribe of Indians, are all involved in the response to the emergency.
“Dewatering operations are continuing in order to improve stability. Firefighters continue applying water to the outside of the vessel to cool the hull,” the U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release. “No new sheens were observed today, but the vessel is surrounded by three layers of containment boom. Responders and equipment are also staged and ready to respond if pollution is observed in the waterway.”
The 276-foot vessel is listing and is still loaded with 55,000 gallons of diesel fuel, according to the Coast Guard.
“In the coming days, responders will ensure the ship is safe for investigators to get on board and for crews to proceed with salvage work,” it said. “Despite the list, the vessel remains stable while dewatering efforts continue. Air monitoring instruments remain in place.”
Dive operations conducted on 11 April concluded the hull remains intact and no water intrusion has occurred. The Tacoma Fire Department is now working on a demobilization plan to scale down its response presence, its chief, Todd Magliocca, told KIRO 7 News. The fire department lifted a shelter-in-place order issued over the weekend due to intense smoke and fumes coming from the fire.