UMTB 283; Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 1988-Dec-26

Initial Notification: On December 26, 1988, the United Marine Tug and Barge, Inc. (UMTB) Tank Barge 283, towed by the tug Marine Explorer, began sinking stern down approximately 35 miles southeast of Simeonof Island, on the western side of the Gulf of Alaska. The tug and barge, en route to Dutch Harbor with approximately 47,620 barrels of diesel on board, encountered extremely rough weather. The pump room and starboard aft tanks, which had been empty, were now flooded, causing the barge to turn bow-up with approximately 80 feet of the barge above water and the remaining 200 feet below the surface. The tug's crew members observed oil coming from the vicinity of the waste oil tanks in the stern area. Although the barge owner speculated that the stern anchor had punctured the aft waste oil tank, the exact cause of the sinking was never determined. The salvage vessel M/V Salvage Chief hired by Seattle-based UMTB arrived on January 7 after an eight-day passage from Astoria, Oregon. Meanwhile, the barge continued leaking diesel fuel as 50-60 knot winds and 20-25 foot seas pounded the area. The tug Salvage Chief arrived on-scene January 7 with divers and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate the bottom of the barge. Small cracks found in the port and starboard main decks were sealed with wooden plugs.\\After considering all the options, UMTB asked the USCG for assistance in sinking the barge. The barge was sunk by the USCG Cutter Sedge at 1246 on January 13, 1989, approximately 11 miles southwest of the Semidi Islands at 55 48 N and 156 46 W.\\Due to the location of the spill, on-scene weather conditions, and the rate of oil leakage, no cleanup action was performed. By January 4, only 40 feet of the barge's bow remained above the surface. From the attitude of the barge, the owner's naval architects and salvage master speculated that four tanks remained filled with diesel fuel while the other tank's cargo was displaced by water. Initially, the owner requested resource agency clearance to move the barge to Stepovak Bay for lightering and repair operations. As the barge, with the tug and tow line still attached, drifted northeast parallel to the coast, evaluations of Stepovak, Castle, Devil's, and Kuiukta bays, along the southeastern side of the Alaska Peninsula, were requested of NOAA. The upright-floating barge was extremely difficult to tow. The vessels were caught in a clockwise back-eddy off of the southwesterly flowing Alaska stream which carried them towards the northeast. The weather remained severe (Beaufort Force 9 with icy conditions) throughout the entire incident. Even though the tug Marine Explorer remained attached to the barge, it was virtually impossible for it to influence their naturally drifting motion and trajectory. On January 11, 1989, the owners requested USCG assistance in sinking the barge. On January 13, the USCG Cutter Sedge used 1500 rounds of 20 mm fire to sink Barge 283 in approximately 102 fathoms of water. The case was closed on January 18, 1989. USCG district 17. Keyword: Adverse weather conditions, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), sinking, remote response, evaporation..