F/V Chichagof Grounded; Kodiak Island, AK

Kodiak Island, AK | 2003-Aug-07

Initial Notification: On Thursday afternoon, August 7, 2003, the Coast Guard was notified that the F/V Chichagof, an 81 foot wooden-hulled fishing tender, grounded in Alitak Bay, Kodiak Island with 15,000 gallons of diesel. The vessel operator hit a rock, after which he intentionally grounded the vessel at position, 55-53.6N, 155-13.4W. The grounding resulted in damage to the vessel's bow area, and the fuel tanks were not compromised during the incident. Nevertheless, it was taking on water. A Good Samaritan vessel delivered a pump to the F/V Chichagof, but that was unable to keep up with the flooding. Not until a Coast Guard helo from station Kodiak delivered two additional pumps was the vessel able to control the flooding. The next morning a welder and marine surveyor were on scene to assess and repair the damaged bow with a patch over the roughly 1 foot X 1 foot hole. By Saturday, August 9, the vessel was fully repaired and back fishing. NOAA supported the Coast Guard in dealing with this incidence by providing detailed weather information and forecasts, tidal data, and resources at risk information.