T/B Seattle; Krestof Sound, Sitka, Alaska

Krestof Sound, Sitka, Alaska | 1987-Oct-20

Initial Notification: At 0030 on October 20, 1987, the tug Alapul was en route to the Sitka, Alaska pulp mill with the tank barge Seattle in tow when the barge ran aground near Olga Point. The barge was carrying 400 tons of chlorine in the forward tank, 900 tons of caustic soda in the aft tank, 3 railroad cars of sulfur, three railroad cars of ammonia, and 1 railroad car of sulfuric acid. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO), Juneau, was notified of the incident at 0145 on October 20, when the master of the Alapul reported that soundings of the barge bottom tanks found some water. All of the other cargo tanks seemed to be intact and free from any damage from the grounding. The tug Tyee was sent from Sitka to assist in towing the barge to the Sitka pulp mill. USCG district 17.