M/V Kuroshima; Unalaska Island, Alaska

Unalaska Island, Alaska | 1997-Nov-26

Initial Notification: NOAA SSC John Whitney was notified on Wednesday evening, 26 NOV 97, that the M/V Kuroshima, a 370' coastal freighter, had run aground on rocks during a heavy storm near Dutch Harbor, AK. The position of the vessel is 53-54' N, 166-25.5' W. Approximately 12,000 gallons of Bunker C oil have reportedly been released into the water. The vessel has a potential capacity of 6,500 barrels; it is unknown at this time how much oil was onboard. On-scene winds are currently from the NW at 40-50 knots, gusting to 90 knots. Observers from the US Coast Guard report that the oil moved into a small bay to the northeast of the grounding site and splashed over a berm into a freshwater lake. Personnel from the USCG Pacific Strike Team are en route to the scene. USCG district 17. Keyword: power washing units, weed cutters, salvage, in-situ burning.