M/V Empress of the North; Columbia River, WA

Columbia River, WA | 2006-Mar-24

Initial Notification: The Empress of the North, a 360-foot cruise ship operated by the American West Steamboat Co., ran aground on the Columbia River near Washougal, Washington on Friday, March 24 at 10:10 a.m. All passengers and crew were safely transferrred off the vessel onto the passenger vessel Queen of the West and a barge early Friday evening. On Saturday, March 25 approximately 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel were removed from the vessel in preparation for re-floating. The NOAA SSC assisted at the USCG Sector Portland Command Post. NOAA ORR provided information on likely oil fate, persistence, and movement in the event of a diesel release from the vessel.