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Posted in Alaska Maritime News on February 11, 2013
KODIAK, Alaska — Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak rescue crews arrived on the scene of an accident on Friday, Feb. 8, after receiving a report at about 3:50 a.m. that the FWS research vessel Arluk began sinking in St. Herman’s Harbor in Kodiak. The vessel was reported to have about 1500 gallons of diesel fuel onboard at the time of the sinking.
Absorbant pads and oil boom float around the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service research vessel Arluk after it sank at the pier in St. Herman’s harbor in Kodiak, Alaska, Feb. 8, 2012. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak personnel responded to the sinking and are assisting with pollution mitigation and salvage of the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
Authorities said the Kodiak Harbormaster discovered the sunken vessel, at 3:30 a.m., and deployed a containment boom around the Arluk to minimize pollution. Lazy Bay LLC personnel, under contract by the FWS, plugged openings in the sunken vessel and were working to refloat it.
“We are working with federal and local partners to quickly respond to the situation and minimize any impact from the sinking,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ben Stixrud, a pollution investigator with MSD Kodiak. “Protecting Alaska’s pristine maritime environment is a priority for the Coast Guardsmen who work and live here.”
For more information about the Coast Guard response, please contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst at 907-463-2065.
For more information about the vessel Arluk, please contact Bruce Woods with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 907-786-3695.
Source: US Coast Guard
Blog post by Alaska maritime lawyer, Gordon, Elias & Seely.