Seattle-based fishing boat runs aground off Alaska, leaking oil
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Coast Guard crews responded to four fishing vessels that went aground in Alaska waters Monday.
No injuries were reported in any of the morning groundings. A sheen, however, was spreading in Prince William Sound from the Seattle-based Cape Cross, which was carrying 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
At last report, the sheen was estimated at 150 yards by 15 yards, according to Petty Officer David Mosley.
The Coast Guard was notified at 11:15 a.m. by the captain of the fishing vessel Josie that the 100-foot Cape Cross went aground with seven crew members on board. The crew was safely transferred to the Josie, Mosley said.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew flew to the site in Main Bay, about 70 miles southwest of Valdez, and delivered dewatering pumps to the crews. Mosley said another Coast Guard crew was expected to arrive later by vessel.
The plan was to wait until low tides Monday evening, then pump out water from the vessel, which went hard aground and is listing 30 degrees, Mosley said.
"It definitely makes for a busy and interesting day for us," Mosley said.
The other three groundings were scattered at various points around Southeast Alaska.
The 34-foot Arcola sank shortly before 7:30 a.m. in Swanson Harbor. Mosley said no pollution has been detected in the area.
The 4:30 a.m. grounding of the 69-foot Chevelle in Revillagigedo Channel punctured a three-inch hole in the crabbing vessel. The crew members refloated the boat with the tide and they were pumping water out as they headed to Sitka, Mosley said.
The crew of the 34-foot Windbreaker also refloated the vessel after it went aground shortly before 7 a.m. at Mab Island. The vessel was undamaged and the crew went back to fishing.
The Coast Guard is investigating the four groundings and what caused them. Mosley said good weather was reported.
No injuries were reported in any of the morning groundings. A sheen, however, was spreading in Prince William Sound from the Seattle-based Cape Cross, which was carrying 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
At last report, the sheen was estimated at 150 yards by 15 yards, according to Petty Officer David Mosley.
The Coast Guard was notified at 11:15 a.m. by the captain of the fishing vessel Josie that the 100-foot Cape Cross went aground with seven crew members on board. The crew was safely transferred to the Josie, Mosley said.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew flew to the site in Main Bay, about 70 miles southwest of Valdez, and delivered dewatering pumps to the crews. Mosley said another Coast Guard crew was expected to arrive later by vessel.
The plan was to wait until low tides Monday evening, then pump out water from the vessel, which went hard aground and is listing 30 degrees, Mosley said.
"It definitely makes for a busy and interesting day for us," Mosley said.
The other three groundings were scattered at various points around Southeast Alaska.
The 34-foot Arcola sank shortly before 7:30 a.m. in Swanson Harbor. Mosley said no pollution has been detected in the area.
The 4:30 a.m. grounding of the 69-foot Chevelle in Revillagigedo Channel punctured a three-inch hole in the crabbing vessel. The crew members refloated the boat with the tide and they were pumping water out as they headed to Sitka, Mosley said.
The crew of the 34-foot Windbreaker also refloated the vessel after it went aground shortly before 7 a.m. at Mab Island. The vessel was undamaged and the crew went back to fishing.
The Coast Guard is investigating the four groundings and what caused them. Mosley said good weather was reported.
