Coast Guard says second vessel being investigated

ANCHORAGE -- A second vessel is being investigated for possible tampering with pollution prevention equipment used to treat oily discharge water from a foreign ship, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard found equipment capable of bypassing the Panamanian-flagged ship's pollution system during a routine boarding of the motor vessel Sohoh, a refrigerated freight ship. Last Monday the motor vessel Khana was found to have the same equipment on board. Both vessels make regular stops at Dutch Harbor.

The equipment enables the crew to bypass the ship's oily water separator systems, allowing for the direct discharge of oily water produced by engine room machinery.

The crews of both vessels were told to retain all oily water on board until proper operation of the oily water separator can be verified and a certificate re-issued.

The Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in Anchorage is continuing to investigate.