COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          6c 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting     December 10, 2019 
DATE:     November 14, 2019 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Managing Director Maritime Division 
Sandra Kilroy, Director Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
Mike DeSota, Sr. Environmental Program Manager 
SUBJECT:  Request for authorization of funds for the disposal of the Motor Vessel (M/V) Fire
Boat Alki (Short Form) 
Amount of this request:                 $329,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a contract totaling
$329,000 for disposal for the Motor Vessel Fire Boat Alki. 
SUMMARY 
The M/V Fire Boat Alki a 118-foot fire response vessel served as a City of Seattle Fire Boat from
1927 until 2013 when the City of Seattle sold it.  The M/V Fire Boat Alki has transitioned
ownership several times and ultimately was abandoned at Fishermen's Terminal in March of
2017 after a brief stay in a local shipyard facility. The Port of Seattle acting under RCW 79.100
obtained custody of the vessel in February of 2018. The Port of Seattle made significant efforts
to dispose or sell the boat and entertained several inquiries of interest from private parties 
including a faith-based ministry in the Marshall Islands, a Dentist from Alaska, a foreign vessel
broker, and a local yacht broker. Unfortunately, none of the inquiries of interest presented a
viable option for the disposal or sale of M/V Fire Boat Alki. Requirements in RCW 79.100 for
selling a vessel of this size and age would likely create a significant financial burden to make the
M/V Fire Boat Alki seaworthy with little to no reduction in risk for future re-abandonment. 
The M/V Fire Boat Alki presents a unique situation due to its age and build style that, if sold to
another party, makes it a high risk for re-abandonment. Future abandonment or possible
sinking could  lead to deleterious environmental impacts  as  the  vessel contains a high
percentage of lead paint on all surfaces and PCB's in most of its electronic equipment. The Port
has solicited bids from the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Derelict Vessel
and Emergency Response Contract for disposal of the vessel. The Port of Seattle received one
bid under the contract for $329,000 for the vessel disposal. 

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6c___                              Page 2 of 2 
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019 
The M/V Fire Boat Alki will be towed to a fully permitted NPDES facility in Tacoma for
dismantling and disposal. Prior to towing all loo se hazardous materials and petroleum product
will be removed from the vessel.  Upon arrival at the yard abatement contractors will make
initial cut lines in the lead containing coatings only to allow for the complete removal of all
Asbestos and Polychlorinated Bi-Phenyl containing materials. Once the M/V Fire Boat Alki has
been fully abated the remaining hull will be mechanically deconstructed with a hydraulic shear.
Metals will be recycled locally to limit transportation and all non-recyclable products will be
handled by local licensed waste handlers. 
The disposal of M/V Fire Boat Alki is recommended to prevent the vessel from being
abandoned in the future. The disposal of the M/V Fire Boat Alki will free up moorage space for
fishermen and eliminates the ongoing pollution threat. The Port of Seattle will apply for and
anticipates  the  potential  for  100  percent  reimbursement  from  the  Washington  State
Department of Natural Resources Derelict Vessel Fund after completion of the disposal process. 
Port staff met with maritime museum collectors to identify smaller removable items for salvage
including any unique/historical pieces of the boat to be preserved in museum or private
collections. The port plans to have a contractor remove as many of the small attractive assets
for cataloguing and sale at an online public auction. This salvage process will be completed just
prior to the removal of the vessel from the terminal. Proceeds of the online auction will offset
the removal costs and port charges owed by the vessel owner. 










Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.