PORT ANGELES — Coast Guard personnel has detained the oil tanker Overseas Jademar in Port Angeles Harbor over alleged safety violations.
The 748-foot, double-hulled tanker was traveling along the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Malaysia to Anacortes to offload cargo at the time of an inspection Monday, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.
Port state control officers from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound said they discovered several significant safety violations during a port state control exam of the Marshall Island-flagged tanker, which will remain detained in Sector Puget Sound’s captain of the port zone until the safety violations are corrected.
The deficiencies found onboard included non-functioning distress signaling equipment and fire safety systems.
The electronic position-indicating radio beacon, an essential piece of distress equipment that notifies authorities of the crew’s location in the event of an emergency, was found nonfunctional, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
After examining multiple fire hose stations, it was discovered that many gaskets between the hoses and nozzles had deteriorated, limiting the crew’s ability to combat any possible fires, the statement added.
The examiners also discovered fire doors that did not automatically close, which when functioning properly, would help contain flames and smoke in the event of a fire and allow the crew more time to combat the fire or abandon ship, the statement said.
“This case illustrates the importance of the port state control program to hold foreign-flagged vessel to international safety standards and ensure the safety of life at sea,” said Cmdr. Matt Edwards, Sector Puget Sound prevention department head.
“We are continuing to monitor the Overseas Jademar and work with the crew and Marshall Islands representatives to correct these deficiencies.”
