LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Cleanup Under Way at Tug Sinking Site

 

Workers adjust an oil containment boom at the site of a sunken boat near the Samson Tug dock, Sunday. (Sentinel Photo)

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment and Department of Environmental Conservation continued their response over the weekend to the potential environmental damage from the sinking of a tugboat at the Samson dock Wednesday night.

Samson has hired contractors to clean up the spilled oil and to survey the 81-foot tug Powhatan where it now rests at a depth of about 180 feet. 

Samson estimated 325 gallons of lube oil, diesel fuel and possible sludge were in the bottom of the main tanks, the DEC said. 

Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Supervisor Jay Willimon said today that the current estimates of diesel spilled is 700 gallons, including fuel from a 2,500-gallon forward fuel tank, engines and fuel lines. The tug has a capacity of 20,000 gallons, but only the forward fuel tank has been in use recently and other fuel tanks have been drained, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said the boat had been out of service for about 10 years.

After sinking at the Samson dock, the vessel slid about 200 yards along an underwater ledge to its present position about 300 meters offshore, from an initial depth of 15 meters to its current depth of about 60 meters, the DEC said.

Divers from Ketchikan are scheduled to arrive this evening to go to work Tuesday on containing or minimizing the diesel discharge, and assessing the vessel for salvage, Willimon said.

“The condition of the vessel, how it’s lying, and what do we need to do to go forward with raising or recovering the boat,” he said.

The Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization has placed boom around the vessel to contain the leak. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation, the Coast Guard said.

“Our top priority is to protect public health, safety and limit environmental impact as we work with the contracted companies to contain and clean-up the spill,” Petty Officer First Class Ken Farah, the federal on scene coordinator representative for the incident, said in the news release. “The Coast Guard and Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation are working together to guarantee an aggressive and effective response.”

The DEC response included “Resources at risk or affected:

“Herring larvae recently emerged from the last spawning event and may be in the surface water in the vicinity of the sinking and salmon fry are migrating from nearby streams and are known to use the shoreline in the area regularly. There is the potential for exposure to marine wildlife (i.e. sea otters and birds) but there have been no reports of impacts to, or observations of, any in the immediate area. ADF&G has provided recommended priorities for protection.”

The DEC and Coast Guard will continue to monitor for impacts on wildlife and fish, the DEC said in Friday situation report.

 

Willimon said several agencies have been responding to the boat sinking, including the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

 

“A lot of agencies have had a role,” he said.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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