From KOMO news:
31 December 2011
EDMONDS, Wash. - Two 50-foot motor yachts were destroyed in a
spectacular two-alarm fire at the Edmonds Marina early Saturday morning.
Fire
crews responded to the scene just before 4 a.m. and found towering
flames spewing from the two boats, lighting up the early morning sky.
The fire was called in by a janitor working in a nearby business.
"Two
boats moored next to each other were engulfed in flames when
firefighters arrived and flames were shooting 50 feet in the air," said
Leslie Hynes of Snohomish County Fire District 1.
No one was
aboard the burning boats, but a man and a woman staying overnight in
another boat moored at the same dock had to be rescued by firefighters,
Hynes said.
She said the burning boats were moored in the first
two slips of the dock, and the flames cut off the couple's access to the
shore.
"They were stuck at the far end of the dock in the smoke until they were rescued by the fire department boat," Hynes said.
The
man and woman were taken to Swedish-Edmonds Hospital, where they were
both treated for minor smoke inhalation and released a few hours later.
Firefighters
from Lynnwood and Shoreline responded to assist Fire District 1. At the
peak of the fire, about 40 firefighters were on the scene.
"The
docks were very icy and slippery, which was a challenge for firefighters
as they worked to put out the fire," Hynes said. "They used an overhead
water stream from a ladder truck and firefighting foam to smother the
flames."
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the fire
under control, but crews continued to battle hot spots for about an hour
as the boats smoldered and fuel ignited. One of the boats sank as the
firefighting effort continued.
Damage to both yachts and the dock is expected to total more than $600,000.
Fire
investigators are working to determine how the fire started. "The boat
where the fire started sank and will have to be raised. Investigators do
not expect to have a cause today," Hynes said.
As firefighters
were putting out hot spots, crews from the Port of Edmonds set up
containment booms. The state Department of Ecology is on the scene
working to control and prevent environmental damage.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Nome is Waiting On Jones Act Waiver
I am finding myself getting "sucked in" to another political article. I find it unavoidable this time. I apologize to all of the people on the Left and Right that I may offend.
Several weeks ago, the Congress and the Senate unanimously passed the America's Cup Act of 2011 in order to allow the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) Event to take place in San Diego. (See our blog entry from 06 November 2011) from The noteworthy aspect of this was that Congress provided, essentially, a Jones Act Waiver to host the ACWS event in under 10 days. Nome has been trying to solve their Winter/Spring fuel problem for over a month now.
I find it interesting that our elected congressional officials were the "only ones" who could preserve the America's Cup event enabling jobs, an economic boost for San Diego and San Francisco. They did this in 10 days, yet a small town in Alaska can wait for a month to find out if they will freeze in February. I see that congress is very concerned with the welfare of all Americans. 10 days to pass a waiver that will create nearly 8000 jobs is impressive until you contrast it with the heating fuel and gasoline that will keep 5000 people warm during the coldest part of the year.
The point of this being, the America's Cup Act was completely and entirely one politician's PR stunt to put a feather in her cap for her (and her party's) re-election hopes. It was unnecessary, because the America's Cup Authority could have gotten the Jones Act Exemption the same way Nome, Alaska is getting it. Now, for every expedited exemption to the Jones Act gets to be run through Congress, which will continue to punch holes in a law that has been around since 1925.
For now, Nome, Alaska's well being (financial and otherwise), according to congress' inaction has been told its citizens are not as important as San Diego's.
The following is an Broadcast from Alaska Public Radio:
Vitus Marine, the company contracted to help get fuel delivered to Nome, is hoping to hear back Friday on the status of the Jones Act waiver for the Russian tanker Renda. The waiver is necessary for the tanker to be able to load gasoline in Dutch Harbor. Mark Smith, CEO of Vitus Marine says the Defense Department and Maritime Administration have weighed in to Customs and Border Protection, who ultimately makes the decision. The waiver claims that Nome’s fuel is of indirect significance to national security. Alaska’s congressional delegation has sent a letter urging the government to approve the waiver.
Meanwhile, the tanker is headed towards port. Smith says the Renda was 340 miles southwest of Attu this morning. It’s expected to be in Dutch Harbor by the afternoon of Jan. 2.
Several question remain on the final routing and offloading of the fuel, but the regulatory pieces are starting to come together. On Tuesday, Vitus submitted its delivery plans to be approved by the state, filing an amendment to its oil discharge prevention and contingency plan to incorporate the cold weather considerations. The vessel support plan is unique as ice-capable tugs and spare barges will not be on hand – instead the Healy will assist, and land based tanks will provide space in the case of an emergency. The Renda itself is ice capable, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation is requiring the Healy’s participation.
The plan calls for the staging of skimmers, thousands of feet of boom, pumps, sorbent pads, tank trucks, and a bobcat. Vitus has contracted with the Chadux corporation to have spill response equipment on hand. There will be a spare 610,000 gallon tank available for emergency use even after the fuel is transferred.
John Kotula is the Manager of the Marine Vessels section for the Department of Environmental Conservation. He says the agency now is making sure that the plans and resources will be ready.
Additional logistics plans are in place for lighting and monitoring the transfer hose if it goes across the ice. The Renda will have extra environmental protection on board, plus three extra officers for a crew of 21. The document says Crowley has agreed to lend equipment in Nome should it be needed. And in addition to the Healy, the plan calls for the Coast Guard to supply a helicopter on shore, with C-130 support overhead, plus specialty personnel. Kotula says the state is in communication with private industry and government groups to make sure the pieces come together in the plan.
Vitus CEO Mark Smith says he’s confident in the plan. He says it’s based in part on what happens on the North Slope on a regular basis. The oil spill response plan is out for public review until Jan. 3.
Several weeks ago, the Congress and the Senate unanimously passed the America's Cup Act of 2011 in order to allow the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) Event to take place in San Diego. (See our blog entry from 06 November 2011) from The noteworthy aspect of this was that Congress provided, essentially, a Jones Act Waiver to host the ACWS event in under 10 days. Nome has been trying to solve their Winter/Spring fuel problem for over a month now.
I find it interesting that our elected congressional officials were the "only ones" who could preserve the America's Cup event enabling jobs, an economic boost for San Diego and San Francisco. They did this in 10 days, yet a small town in Alaska can wait for a month to find out if they will freeze in February. I see that congress is very concerned with the welfare of all Americans. 10 days to pass a waiver that will create nearly 8000 jobs is impressive until you contrast it with the heating fuel and gasoline that will keep 5000 people warm during the coldest part of the year.
The point of this being, the America's Cup Act was completely and entirely one politician's PR stunt to put a feather in her cap for her (and her party's) re-election hopes. It was unnecessary, because the America's Cup Authority could have gotten the Jones Act Exemption the same way Nome, Alaska is getting it. Now, for every expedited exemption to the Jones Act gets to be run through Congress, which will continue to punch holes in a law that has been around since 1925.
For now, Nome, Alaska's well being (financial and otherwise), according to congress' inaction has been told its citizens are not as important as San Diego's.
The following is an Broadcast from Alaska Public Radio:
Vitus Marine, the company contracted to help get fuel delivered to Nome, is hoping to hear back Friday on the status of the Jones Act waiver for the Russian tanker Renda. The waiver is necessary for the tanker to be able to load gasoline in Dutch Harbor. Mark Smith, CEO of Vitus Marine says the Defense Department and Maritime Administration have weighed in to Customs and Border Protection, who ultimately makes the decision. The waiver claims that Nome’s fuel is of indirect significance to national security. Alaska’s congressional delegation has sent a letter urging the government to approve the waiver.
Meanwhile, the tanker is headed towards port. Smith says the Renda was 340 miles southwest of Attu this morning. It’s expected to be in Dutch Harbor by the afternoon of Jan. 2.
Several question remain on the final routing and offloading of the fuel, but the regulatory pieces are starting to come together. On Tuesday, Vitus submitted its delivery plans to be approved by the state, filing an amendment to its oil discharge prevention and contingency plan to incorporate the cold weather considerations. The vessel support plan is unique as ice-capable tugs and spare barges will not be on hand – instead the Healy will assist, and land based tanks will provide space in the case of an emergency. The Renda itself is ice capable, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation is requiring the Healy’s participation.
The plan calls for the staging of skimmers, thousands of feet of boom, pumps, sorbent pads, tank trucks, and a bobcat. Vitus has contracted with the Chadux corporation to have spill response equipment on hand. There will be a spare 610,000 gallon tank available for emergency use even after the fuel is transferred.
John Kotula is the Manager of the Marine Vessels section for the Department of Environmental Conservation. He says the agency now is making sure that the plans and resources will be ready.
Additional logistics plans are in place for lighting and monitoring the transfer hose if it goes across the ice. The Renda will have extra environmental protection on board, plus three extra officers for a crew of 21. The document says Crowley has agreed to lend equipment in Nome should it be needed. And in addition to the Healy, the plan calls for the Coast Guard to supply a helicopter on shore, with C-130 support overhead, plus specialty personnel. Kotula says the state is in communication with private industry and government groups to make sure the pieces come together in the plan.
Vitus CEO Mark Smith says he’s confident in the plan. He says it’s based in part on what happens on the North Slope on a regular basis. The oil spill response plan is out for public review until Jan. 3.
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