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Five days in, hot spots remain on listing fishing ship that holds 55,000 gallons of diesel

The Kodiak Enterprise can be seen listing on Tuesday as a fire boat sprays it with water.
The Kodiak Enterprise can be seen listing on Tuesday as a fire boat sprays it with water. Washington Department of Ecology

Firefighting crews spent Wednesday gaining access to interior spaces onboard the Kodiak Enterprise, burning since Saturday in Tacoma’s Hylebos Waterway.

Crews from the Tacoma Fire Department and Resolve Marine extinguished hot spots and identified areas of standing water inside the ship moored at Trident Seafoods.

Once the ship is safe, investigators will board the fishing vessel and crews will begin salvage work, including the removal of an estimated 55,000 gallons of diesel, the Coast Guard said.

Both the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board will conduct the investigation into the fire’s cause.

Although the ship is listing, the Coast Guard said it was stable. Dewatering operations will improve the stability. Firefighters continued another day of spraying the ship’s hull to cool it.

No new sheens were observed Wednesday. The ship is surrounded by three layers of containment booms.

A claims process has been established for those financially affected by the response to the fire. Call 206-378-6090 for more information.

This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM.

Craig Sailor
The News Tribune
Craig Sailor has worked for The News Tribune since 1998 as a writer, editor and photographer. He previously worked at The Olympian and at other newspapers in Nevada and California. He has a degree in journalism from San Jose State University.
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