F/V Northern Mariner; Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska

Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska | 2008-Aug-07

Initial Notification: The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Valdez on the morning of August 8 of the intentional grounding of the 92' F/V Northern Mariner two hours before the high tide on the previous afternoon of August 7 after striking a rock. The vessel contains 25,000 gallons of diesel in 6 wing tanks, 3 on each side of the vessel and was loaded with fish, but no release has occurred. The captain reports that damage occurred about 6 ft. from the nearest fuel tank - a one foot long hole in the forward engine room. Four persons were successfully abandoned on the evening of August 7, and MSU Valdez has requested a trajectory for a possible release. The vessel's proximity to the San Juan fish hatchery is of paramount concern to the Coast Guard. Current efforts are being focused on litering both the fuel and the fish to lighten the vessel as well as to partially deploy the pre-staged boom around the hatchery.