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Report - Situation

Situation Update:  17 April, 1999

        Several possible scenarios are being investigated by the USCG with participation
of NOAA and include asphyxiation by engine exhaust, misuse of chemical preservative,
formation of H2S, and oxygen displacement in the hold (a detailed summary of possible
scenarios is included in Hotline #04).  At present, none have been ruled out.  The
coroner's report is still pending along with the blood chemistry data.  Since most
accidents generally involved the failure of more than one system, one possibility is that
more than one of the hypothetical scenarios occurred and the combination resulted in the
death of the three fishermen.

        In an effort to assess whether exhaust fumes contributed, USCG DDO Panama with
Navy Coastal System Center (NCSC) Chemists and the NOAA SSC collected a series of air grab
samples on 16 April.  With the generator running for more than three hours and the hold
closed, air samples were collected at the bottom and mid-height of both the hold and
engine room.  The air samples were taken directly to the NCSC laboratory for analysis.
The chemistry results suggest no harmful exposure from the generator alone.  The engine
would not start.  Air sampling with the engine running is pending.  Chemistry results
follow:


Chemistry Results w/Generator Only Running:
Engine Mid.:  CO 3.2 ppm, H2S <0.2 ppm, NO2 < 0.5 ppm, SO2 < 0.25 ppm
Engine Bot.:  CO 1.9 ppm, H2S <0.2 ppm, NO2 < 0.5 ppm, SO2 < 0.25 ppm
Hold Mid.:  CO 1.7 ppm, H2S <0.2 ppm, NO2 < 0.5 ppm, SO2 < 0.25 ppm
Hold Bot.:    CO 2.7 ppm, H2S <0.2 ppm, NO2 < 0.5 ppm, SO2 < 0.25 ppm
CO by IR
H2S, NO2, and SO2 by Kitagawa Gas Detection Tubes

The NOAA SSC has left the scene, but is still coordinating with the primary USCG
investigator (LT Messmer).