Incidents Gallery

[NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Smoke plume visible for miles. Ship took an 8 degree list as a result of cooling water sprayed by Seattle Fire Department. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. The fire boat, CHIEF SEATTLE, was on scene early to assist in fighting the fire from the water side. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. In addition to the fire boat, land-based firefighting apparatuses were brought in efforts to control the fire. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Because of the intense heat, firefighters were not able to make much headway fighting the fire inside the vessel. Cooling water continued to be sprayed to slow the spread to adjacent areas. Firefighters are gathered on the stern waiting for an opportunity to fight the fire. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Crane lowering a steel plate to the deck, which will be used to cover open hatches prior to flooding the ship's interior with carbon dioxide to smother the fire. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. USCG enforced a 1 nautical mile safety zone during firefighting operations in response to the threatened ammonia release. Once the fire was under control, the security zone was decreased to 250 yards. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Personnel from USCG MSO Puget Sound provide technical assistance to the Seattle Fire Department. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Seattle Fire Department Incident Command Post. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Liquid carbon dioxide was pumped into the vessel to displace the oxygen, smother the flames, and lower the temperature within the vessel. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. The scene early the next morning with buses standing by in case of evacuation. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. The fire quickly escalated to a five-alarm response, invloving up to 65 trucks and firefighting apparatus being called from Seattle and surrounding communities. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. The white hose is carrying the liquid carbon dioxide from the tank truck to the ship. The hose is white due to icing. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. The temperatures from the fire were so high, over 450 F, that paint on the side of the vessel blistered. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Drums containing petroleum products stored on upper decsk of the OMNISEA. These were sprayed with water during the fire to prevent their ignition. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Firefighters with hoses ramained on-scene the next afternoon. OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. Pumping carbon dioxide continued throughout the afternoon on the next day. The carbon dioxide atmosphere was maintained inside the vessel for 48 hours before the Seattle Fire Department declared the fire out. [NOAA OR&R Photo] OMNISEA incident, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, September 16, 1991. After the fire was declared out and the spaces were ventilated, Coast Guard personnel inspceted the ship for fire damage. A 16-foot transverse crack was found on the port side of the main deck in the vicinity of hold number 3. [NOAA OR&R Photo] Powell Duffryn chemical storage tank incident, Savannah, Georgia, April 1995. Sheen of Sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) in marsh before die off of vegetation near the Savannah River. Powell Duffryn chemical storage tank incident, Savannah, Georgia, April 1995. Overflight observation of the marsh area east of the Powell Duffryn storage facility. [NOAA OR&R Photo] Powell Duffryn chemical storage tank incident, Savannah, Georgia, April 1995. Chemicals released from the Powell Duffryn facility killed large areas of marsh vegetation.

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Revised: May 12, 2000
Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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