Boom surrounds the sunken vessel Pacific Venture near The Twins, Sitka, Alaska, Sept. 2, 2015. A unified command consisting of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Sitka, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, National Park Service and the vessel’s owner are working with Sitka City officials to clean up fuel from the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lewis Beck.
JUNEAU, Alaska — A Unified Command has been formed to respond to a vessel sinking and resultant 10-30 gallon oil spill in Sitka, Alaska.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Sitka, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, National Park Service and the vessel’s owner are working with Sitka City officials to clean up the spill.
The fishing vessel Pacific Venture, a 58-foot seiner, ran aground Tuesday evening and subsequently rolled over around 2 a.m. Wednesday, sinking in approximately 25 feet of water. The incident occurred in vicinity of The Twins, roughly ½ mile off the mouth of the Indian River in Sitka.
The vessel owner reports 600 gallons of diesel fuel and 70 gallons of hydraulic and lube oils were on board. Approximately 10-30 gallons of oil were released into the water.
Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization (SEAPRO) and local responders began deploying boom around the vessel at noon Wednesday. Boom deployment was complete by 3 p.m. The Pacific Venture is currently secured to shore by a line to keep it from drifting. Salvage operations are pending. No injuries have been reported, and to date there have been no confirmed reports of impacts to wildlife.
“Responders are working diligently to minimize the impact on the environment and the community,” said Bob Mattson, State On Scene Coordinator. “Federal, state and local partners continue to work alongside one another for an effective response.”
The cause of the grounding is currently under investigation.
Weather on scene is generally sunny, northwest wind of 8-13 knots, seas 1 foot.
For more information contact:
U.S. Coast Guard
Lieutenant Jennifer Ferreira
907-463-2835
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Candice Bressler
907-465-5009
City of Sitka
Sara Peterson
907-747-1811
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Yesterday evening (09-01-15), a wooden seiner ran aground in the vicinity of the Twins Island, roughly 0.5 to 0.75 nm off the mouth of Indian River. The F/V Pacific Venture later sunk.
Petty Officer Allison McKim with Air Station Sitka said the Coast Guard did a flyover of Jamestown Bay at 6:30 p.m., but did not see a fishing vessel. The Coast Guard was officially alerted to the Pacific Venture at 7:15 p.m.
According to a situation report from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pacific Venture initially grounded on rocks at 7:15 p.m., resting on its side. Sheening was reported at 8 a.m. Marine Safety Detachment Sitka estimates 5 gallons of diesel fuel was released in that grounding.
The Pacific Venture then rolled over at 2:00 a.m. today (09-02-15) and sank in approximately 25 feet of water. Investigation into the cause of the grounding is ongoing. The vessel is secured with a line to keep it from drifting away from the Twins.
The vessel owner, William Manos, contracted with the Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization (SEAPRO) for cleanup operations. A salvage plan is also under development.
Source:http://www.kcaw.org/2015/09/02/seiner-sinks-in-eastern-channel/