M/V Northern Wind; Sequam Island, Aleutian Island chain, Alaska

Sequam Island, Aleutian Island chain, Alaska | 1995-Jul-24

Initial Notification: The M/V Northern Wind, a 178-foot fish processing vessel, ran aground on the northeastern side of Seguam Island holing the #1 port and starboard fuel tanks containing approximately 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The vessel owner, Arctic Alaska Seafoods in Dutch Harbor, sent a spill response team with equipment to the grounding site by the F/T American Enterprise. Within 12 hours the vessel floated free from the rocks and anchored one-half mile from the grounding site. An estimated 20 to 25 thousand gallons of diesel were lost, and the response vessel pumped another 20 to 25 thousand gallons from the two damaged tanks. An additional 75 thousand gallons of diesel remained in the undamaged stern tanks. The USCG Cutter Morgenthau was on-scene throughout the incident. USCG permission was granted to move the vessel 70 miles west to a sheltered bay on the east side of Atka Island for temporary repairs. Initially the winds were northwest to 20 knots but diminished to light and variable for the duration of the incident. The response lasted for approximately five days USCG district 17. Keyword: none.