Crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco went to the aid of three crew aboard the fishing vessel Heather Anne when their boat began taking on water in the Wrangell Narrows, near Mitkof Island in Southeast Alaska on June 14.
All three crew aboard the fishing vessel were reported to be safe on Mitkof Island, having made it to shore in a skiff.
The Bailey Barco crew provided dewatering pumps in an effort to mitigate the potential discharge from the vessel and impact into the waterway, but due to the current and the vessel being completely flooded, that effort failed.Coast Guard officials said there was potentially 200 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid reported to be on the vessel. Minor sheening was reported in the area of the vessel, but there were no signs of impact to the hatchery. Sector Juneau has assumed pollution response efforts and opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted a response organization to stabilize the vessel and mitigate pollution, the Coast Guard said.
