F/V Massacre Bay; Alitak Bay, Alaska

Alitak Bay, Alaska | 1993-Jan-16

Initial Notification: The fishing vessel Massacre Bay grounded and capsized the morning of January 16, 1993, in Alitak Bay, Kodiak Island as the result of gale force winds ranging up to 45 knots out of the northwest. Three crewmembers drowned and one was rescued by the USCG. Diesel leaking from the vents caused a sheen that extended several hundred meters, but it rapidly dissipated in the rough weather. Total fuel capacity of the vessel was 5,000 gallons. Several weeks of bad weather prevented salvaging the vessel that was floating upside down in 20 to 30 feet of water. In the middle of February, divers inspected the vessel and capped the main fuel system vents. No additional fuel leakage was detected. USCG district 17. Keyword: none.