U.S. Coast Guard officials have assumed responsibility for cleanup efforts for fuel released by the F/V Nordic Viking, a 71-foot fishing tender that sank at the city of Seward’s T-Dock, spilling an unknown amount of marine diesel and other petroleum products.
Coast Guard officials said Dec. 12 that they opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and Alaska Chadux has been contracted as the oil spill removal organization. The vessel’s hull tanks ca hold 2,500 gallons of fuel, but the responsible party estimated some 700 gallons were in the tanks at the time of the sinking, the Coast Guard said.
Vessel owner Larry March meanwhile contracted Storm Chaser Marine Services Inc, to salvage the vessel and the company’s divers have plugged the fuel vents.
The Coast Guard’s main objective is to limit environmental impacts through containment and cleanup of the release as quickly and efficiently as possible, said Capt. Sean MacKenzie, commander of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. The Coast Guard is working with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and contracted agencies to minimize the impact of the spill. Cause of the sinking is unknown.
No hazards to wildlife or further discharger were reported.
The vessel sinking was reported to DEC officials on Dec. 9 by Harbormaster Norm Regis, who discovered the sunken tender while doing a routine walk around the harbor, said Lisa Krebs-Barsis, spokesperson for DEC.
The harbormaster’s office deployed absorbent boom and the salvage operator, contacted March, and deployed containment boom, but the vessel shifted and pulled the boom under.
Krebs-Barsis said she was advised by March that the vessel had a maximum capacity of 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel, but estimated 600-700 gallons were on board at the time of the sinking, along with some engine oils and a 50 gallon stand-alone gas tank on deck, which was not entirely full.
U.S. Coast Guard officials were at the scene, and representatives of the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, while not formally involved, had been checking informally for any impacted wildlife.
The small boat harbor is home to several species of marine mammals and birds, and Scheffler Creek, south of the entrance to the boat harbor is designated anadromous fish habitat.
