Posted on: Tuesday, May 14, 2002

Insiko bones await toxicity determination

Advertiser Staff

The Honolulu medical examiner cannot identify the bones found aboard the refueling tanker Insiko 1907 until first evaluating what, if any, hazardous materials are present.

The bones were found Thursday in the engine room, where a devastating fire killed crewman Gi Hui Nian and crippled the ship in March. Six feet of oily water had to be pumped out of the room before officials found the remains.

Concerned officials triple-bagged the bones, said Susan Siu, lead investigator for the medical examiner.

"It's something we never had before," she said. "We have to figure out what we are dealing with before we examine them because of the hazardous materials."

The Insiko was towed to Pier 24 by the U.S. Coast Guard to prevent it from running aground on the reefs of Johnston Atoll.