Spills

At approximately 0700 on march 31, 1993, a rupture occurred in a 6-inch titanium pipe used in pulp production

Ketchikan Pulp Mill; Ketchikan, Alaska · Ketchikan, Alaska · NOAAORR-6933

issued
1993-03-31 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1993-04-14 00:00Z
self-cancels
1993-04-14 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
The Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia
position
55.417, -131.700
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Ketchikan Pulp Mill; Ketchikan, Alaska.
Ketchikan, Alaska.
1. At approximately 0700 on March 31, 1993, a rupture occurred in a 6-inch titanium pipe used in pulp production. The rupture discharged a mixture of wood chips and magnesium bisulfite solution into a floor drain leading to the main sewer outfall and ultimately discharged into Ward Cove. The pH of the spilled magnesium bisulfite solution was approximately 2.0. The digester holds approximately 25,000 gallons of which an unknown quantity ran into Ward Cove. When the spill occurred, gaseous sulfur dioxide was released into the air from the aqueous magnesium bisulfite solution. One employee was overcome by this gas and taken to the hospital, but was released shortly. Due to the prevailing winds, personnel were evacuated from the surrounding buildings until the sulfur dioxide dissipated. A continuous monitoring of the pH on the Ward Cove outfall indicated only a 0.3 drop in the Ph reading when [...]
2. COMMODITY: AQUEOUS MAGNESIUM BISULFITE SOLUTION AND SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 25000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 55.417N 131.700W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6933: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6933

This area · spills & pollution incidents

98 within 180 nm since 1986 · 7 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

86
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Worldwide now

7 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.