MV Pacsun; Icy Bay, Northern Gulf of Alaska

Icy Bay, Northern Gulf of Alaska | 2000-Feb-26

Initial Notification: On the morning of February 26, 2000, the 539-foot log freighter, Pacsun, went aground after having loaded logs from a camp in Icy Bay. The M/V Pacsun is operated by Lasoc Shipping Co. of Portland, Oregon. Originally it was believed that the vessel was on soft bottom just inside a spit extending from the eastern entrance to Icy Bay. However, divers discovered that the ship's aft portion was resting on a flat rock. After removing much of the log cargo, the initial attempt to refloat the vessel occurred on the lower high tide, the evening of February 26 using the two small tugs that were available at the logging camp. This effort was unsuccessful. Two larger tugs, dispatched from Juneau, and were due to arrive on-scene the morning of February 27. Due to crew fatigue and the two larger tugs not being in position, no attempt was made on the morning higher high tide on February 27. Efforts to refloat the vessel was planned for the morning of a higher high tide on February 28. With the vessel fully lightered of logs and the tugs pulling, the Pacsun was successfully refloated on this tide. No pollution occurred. The ship is carrying 220,000 gallons of bunker fuel, but there were no reports of any fuel leaking. USCG district 17. Keyword: none.