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USCG Sector New York. M/V Sichem Defiance. Regional Response Team II Meeting November 16, 2010. LCDR André Murphy Chief, Incident Management Division. Incident Description.
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USCG Sector New York M/V Sichem Defiance Regional Response Team II Meeting November 16, 2010 LCDR André Murphy Chief, Incident Management Division
Incident Description • 0820 on 10JAN10 - SECNY VTS received report of an explosion onboard M/V Sichem Defiance during loading ops with the tank barge Freedom while anchored in Gravesend Bay • No personnel casualties or damage to hull integrity • No known discharge occurred into the water from the initial incident. • There was a report of product being blown into the air. FDNY tested the water for ethanol and the air for vapors. • January 10, 2010 – January 30, 2010
Vessel Information • 443’ oil/chemical tanker • Flag: Marshall Islands • 18 Persons On Board Cargo Information • 1,722,000 gallons of Denatured Ethanol • 650,000 gallons of Linear Alkylbenzene
Initial Response Actions • Launched CG STA NY 45’ keeping them upwind 150 yards • CDO commenced briefings to IO, MI, ICR, D1 • Requested FDNY send HAZ team on board • Diverted CGC TAMPA to enforce 1,000 yard safety measure • Crew applied cement patch to control vapors • When safe to respond, IO/MI/Pollution team boarded • IMT Stood up; OSC notified NYDEC/NYCOEM
Response Actions • An Incident Management Team was put into place on 10JAN10 with the USCG, NYS DEC, OEM, FDNY, NOAA, the ships’ Agent and contractors • The USCG Atlantic Strike Team arrived 11JAN10 to provide air and transfer monitoring • USCG assets patrolled a 1000 yard VTS Safety Measure around the vessel • CERCLA opened for $25K - AST air monitoring = $6.6K • FDNY Marine was on scene for safety • The RRT was activated on 16JAN10
Damage to M/V Sichem Defiance • Rupture of the main deck - 3.5' x 1' hole & 1' by 3" crack above #3 starboard cargo • Several tanks (cargo and ballast) on the vessel were compromised. • 3 P & 3 S Cargo • 4 S Cargo • 3 P, 3 S & 4 S Ballast • The investigation is currently focusing on the pressure relief valve on the #3 S cargo tank.
4P 3P 2P 1P 4S 3S 2S 1S Sichem Defiance Diagram
M/V Sichem Defiance Damage to 4 starboard cargo tank
M/V Sichem Defiance Damage to 3 starboard cargo tank, aft bulkhead
M/V Sichem Defiance Damage to 3 starboard cargo hold Damage to 4 starboard cargo hold
Twisted frames on deck with cement patches Broken gusset and cement patch
#3 Stbd Cargo Tank – CL blkhd #3 Port Cargo Tank – CL blkhd
M/V Sichem Defiance Trajectory for Ethanol and Linear Alkylbenzene
Environmentally sensitive areas that may have been affected if there was a discharge
Initial Incident Objectives • Ensure safety of life and property in the port-area and surrounding communities during all phases of response. • Prevent further cargo release into water or atmosphere. • Supervise M/V Sichem Defiance salvage and repair. • Re-open anchorage and fully restore Marine Transportation System as soon as determined safe.
Constraints/ Limitations • Weather temps between 19 °-46°, often in low 30s. • Presence of vapors • Unsafe operations at night • Damage to cargo & ballast tanks unknown • No facilities in Port of NY/NJ that take LAB • Initial rpts of barge avail for LAB was 2-3 wks • Ship to ship transfer proposed • Performing structural analyses by sending plans to SERT for review • Resp & Ship Crew fatigue management • Chemical Tanker availability • Pumping out wing ballast tanks
Incident Mitigation Actions • Utilized internal cargo transfer pumps to move product from 3P, 3S, 4S to other undamaged cargo holds • Stripped damaged tanks as much as possible until leaching ceased • Then conducted “over-the-top” transfer to remove product from ballast tanks. • Transferred cargo off of Sichem Defiance to two different vessels
RRT Items of note • Issues presented • Products on board threatening discharge • The need to perform tank cleanings • Number of times the tanks needed to be washed and stripped before allowing subsequent water to be discharged overboard. • Decisions • It was agreed upon to allow the vessel to discharge into the water after 3 washes of each tank where the water used to wash the tank was transferred to “slop” tanks.
Response Resources • Sector New York Command Center • Sector New York Incident Management Team • Sector New York Vessel Traffic Service • USCG Atlantic Strike Team • USCG Station New York (4 - 45’ RBM’s) • USCGC CHINOOK • USCGC TYBEE • USCGC SAILFISH • USCGC TAMPA • USCGC STATEN ISLAND • USCG SERT (Salvage Engineering Response Team) • FDNY Marine 1, Marine 6 and Marine 9 • Regional Response Team II • NYC Office of Emergency Management • NYC Department of Environmental Protection • NY Department of Environmental Conservation • NJ Department of Environmental Protection • NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator • NYC EMS • NYPD
Lessons Learned • Interoperable Communication • Interagency Dissemination of Incident Report Updates • Logistics Support for Response Personnel
Interoperable Communications • Observations • Comms between agencies on at least 6 different frequencies and cell phones. • Number and variance in frequencies led to disparate command and control during the initial response. • Action • Interoperable communication equipment shortfall noted in the Coast Guard Contingency Preparedness System • Communications Unit Leader (COML) identified in Watch Quarter Station Bill (WQSB) • COML will develop an incident specific Communications Plan (ICS-205 form)
Interagency Dissemination of Incident Reports • Observation • The USCG Homeport e-portal was used to communicate incident updates. • Response agencies concerned that Homeport is too cumbersome to retrieve info and the dissemination of key infor to partner agencies was delayed. • Action • Situation Unit Leader (SITL) will create an incident-specific e-mail or text message distribution list to pass timely infor to key response partners. • A Sector New York SITL-specific checklist will be created and provided in the SITL’s “Go-Kit.” • USCG Homeport will continue to be used.
Logistics Support for Response Personnel • Observation • Transportation of response personnel and logistics coordination was difficult or often delayed due to uncoordinated transportation plan. • Response personnel noted a critical need for a dedicated small boat asset for • transportation • safety zone enforcement • emergency evacuation platform • Action • SECNY identified LSC position in WQSB • For future hazardous-condition responses, USCG Sector New York Response, OSC, PSC, and LSC will immediately evaluate small-boat availability for • dedicated transportation • safety standby
After Action Plans • Utilize COML to develop a incident specific comms plan • Continue to redevelop the Alert Warning System to include incident specific agency notifications in addition to the NRC report • Disseminate incident update reports via email/text messages, in addition to Homeport • If available, dedicate a small boat asset for logistic support and emergency response operations