The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SEATTLE) — Coast Guard Sector Seattle is monitoring two commercial vessels heading to the Puget Sound region today.
The two vessels are being monitored after two separate incidents.
Captain Stephen Metruck, Captain of the Port, Puget Sound, has directed the crew of the bulk crude oil carrier Stavenger Blossom to remain off the coast of Washington due to an inoperable inert gas system. Large tanker vessels carrying oil, gas, or chemicals are equipped with inert gas systems to fill up each cargo tank headspace’s with gasses to reduce the level of flammable vapors. The Stavenger Blossom crew has completed repairs to the system, the vessel has been verified as safe to enter port and is currently en route to their final destination in Anacortes, Washington. The vessel will be inspected by the Coast Guard prior to the start of cargo transfer operations.
Sector Seattle is also monitoring the tow of the 783-foot container ship India Lotus, which sustained a fire on June 20, 2008 while the vessel was located approximately 1,400 miles from the Washington coast. The fire was extinguished later that day and the vessel is currently being towed to Vancouver, Canada for repairs. The India Lotus will enter the Straits of Jan de Fuca later this evening and is due to arrive in Vancouver on Saturday evening. The Coast Guard has worked collaboratively with Washington Department of Ecology, Transport Canada Marine Safety, Crowley Towing, Titan Salvage and the vessel’s agents and owners to ensure for the ship’s safe transit to Vancouver.
