M/V Cape Sarichef; Grass Bar Island, Copper River Delta, Gulf of Alaska

Grass Bar Island, Copper River Delta, Gulf of Alaska | 1986-Sep-09

Initial Notification: On September 8, 1986, at approximately 1630, the Cape Sarichef, an 85-foot cargo vessel, ran aground on the south side of Grass Bar Island, one of the barrier islands at the mouth of the Copper River Delta. Due to a confusion regarding jurisdiction, the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Anchorage, was not notified until the next morning. At that time, it was learned that the vessel was breaking up, resulting in a 100-200 foot sheen around the vessel and release of an unknown amount of diesel fuel. A 2,500 gallon tank full of diesel and a 300-gallon tank two-thirds full of diesel had gone overboard. USCG district 17.