Shortly after 5:00 this morning, F/V ARICA, a 200-foot fishing vessel moored in Lake Union in Seattle, began to take on water. ARICA had been in drydock and was recently returned to the water. The crew had set up pumps to expel water from an apparent hull leak. Early this morning, the power source to the pumps failed; the water level is reported to have become about a foot deep inside the engine room by the time Seattle firefighters arrived with enough pumps to resume the work.
Power was restored this morning and there were no injuries and no fuel leaks or spills into Lake Union noted, but as a precaution, a boom has been placed around ARICA, and the pumped-out water is undergoing sewage treatment to remove any oil traces. At this time, the pumping continues and there is no threat of sinking. The leak is thought to be caused by a problem with the sea chest, which is a grated recess in the hull of the ship used for intake and piping of raw water for secondary cooling of the main propulsion engine.
ARICA is a Seattle-based head and gut catcher processor which was scheduled to work in Alaskan waters in January, but she will remain moored until divers have ascertained the source of the leak and repairs are made.
