Last Tuesday 5th September, 2023 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey ship S 221 RAINIER suffered a fire aboard during operations off American Samoa.
The fire was controlled and all 41 people were reported safe with no injuries. The fire started in the exhaust stacks of the survey vessel, impacting the ship’s propulsion and other systems. Immediately after the fire, NOAA notified the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Department of Defense (DoD) who worked to identify available resources in the area in case they are needed.
An update from NOAA Wednesday afternoon said most of the ship’s systems have since been restored and the vessel is back underway enroute to Pago Pago, American Samoa.
The 70 metres long Hydrographic Ship was commissioned on 2nd October 1968 and is homeported in Newport, Oregon.
NOAA’s fleet of 15 research and survey ships are managed and operated by NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and comprise the largest fleet of federal research ships in the nation.
S 330 MCARTHUR at San Diego, California back to 8th December, 2001.
