M/V River Ways 10; Just offshore, village of Mekoryuk, N side Nunivak Island, Bering Sea

Just offshore, village of Mekoryuk, N side Nunivak Island, Bering Sea | 1999-Sep-30

Initial Notification: On the morning of September 30, 1999, MSO Anchorage received a report that a small release of #1 fuel had occurred from the M/V River Ways 10, a small non-tank barge belonging to Yutana Barge Lines. The spill was in the bay just offshore the village of Mekoryuk on the north side of Nunivak Island. The reason for the release was uncertain, however, the USCG was informed that the fuel in the barge was being transferred to other intact tanks. The USCG also learned that the barge crew had deployed a boom around the spill and were in the process of skimming. The total amount of fuel onboard was 78,000 gallons This area is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) administered by the USFWS. The combination of skimming, evaporation, and natural dispersion soon eliminated the problem and no resources were impacted. Weather at the time was 10-knot winds, 26?F, and a cloud ceiling of 1000 feet. USCG district 17. Keyword: boom, skimmer.