Excellence Vessel Reviews and Specifications

In a recent development, Phoenix Processor LP (Phoenix) has settled a $12,000 fine handed down by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) for an incident that involved the spillage of 177 gallons of diesel fuel from their vessel, the 'Excellence', in Elliott Bay, Seattle. This unfortunate event occurred on May 9, 2011, while the 'Excellence' was taking on fuel at Pier 90. The company acted promptly post-incident, reporting the spill and initiating a cleanup operation. However, it was discovered that the crew failed to adhere to specific written instructions designed to mitigate such spills. The chief engineer neglected to follow both the provided guidelines and the vessel’s spill response plan, leading to diesel fuel escaping through an air vent in one of the fuel tanks. In addition, the crew did not adequately seal a containment box, which could have helped retain some or all of the spillage. Thankfully, an oil-spill containment boom had been deployed around the 'Excellence' promptly before fueling commenced, effectively preventing the spread of fuel beyond the vessel's immediate vicinity. According to Washington State regulations, penalties for these infractions can be contested through the State Pollution Control Hearings Board. In addition to the $12,000 fine, Phoenix contributed $3,010 to Ecology to cover the expenses incurred during the response and cleanup efforts. Earlier, they also settled a $2,547 assessment for damages caused to the public’s environmental resources, which was based on the volume of fuel spilled and the potential risk to surrounding ecosystems. This assessment was settled back in September 2011. Notably, this was not the first spillage incident for the 'Excellence', which had a smaller spill of three gallons in 2009 due to a corroded fill pipe during fueling operations.

The fish processing vessel Excellence is back on the water, resuming pollock fishing operations after a 10-day hiatus in Unalaska due to an ammonia leak. According to Joe Bersch, the general manager of Premier Pacific Seafoods based in Seattle, the incident occurred on July 6 while the vessel was transferring frozen fish to a tramper cargo ship. The leak led to the hospitalization of two welders in Anchorage and prompted an emergency evacuation of the 129 crew members aboard Excellence, as well as nearby businesses along Ballyhoo Road, extending from Dutch Harbor Spit to the Unalaska Marine Center. Fortunately, the welders have since been reported in stable condition, allowing Excellence to return to its essential fishing activities.

The ammonia leak aboard the vessel 'Excellence' has been successfully contained as of July 10. The incident began on July 6 in the afternoon while the ship was moored at the Kloosterboer Cold Storage Dock. Since the onset of the leak, a Hazmat team has been diligently overseeing the situation, actively venting ammonia fumes to ensure safety. Experts anticipate that the ship could be cleared of ammonia within the next 48 hours, at which point a tugboat will tow the 'Excellence' back to Kloosterboer Dock for necessary repairs. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the leak.