F/V American Way; Aghiyuk Island, W. Gulf of Alaska

Aghiyuk Island, W. Gulf of Alaska | 2009-Jan-06

Initial Notification: On January 6, 2009, Sector Anchorage notified the NOAA SSC of a potential incident in which a fiberglass 38' F/V American Way had engine problems enroute on a supply cruise between the villages of Kodiak and Chignik, on the Alaskan Peninsula. and was intentionally grounded on Aghiyuk Island, SW of Kodiak Island. The vessel had 650 gallons of diesel fuel in tanks and 4 drums of diesel on board. After grounding, the 2-man crew abandoned the vessel and was rescued by the CG and taken to Chignik. Aghiyuk Island is part of the Alaska Maritime NWR. The CG requested weather and possible oil fate should any release occur. Due to bad weather an initial CG overflight was unable to obtain any clear view or photos of the vessels. In order to assess the condition and situation of the vessel, the CG hired Magone Marine out of Dutch Harbor. Due to distance, however, their ETA was some time on Jan. 8. Over the next several weeks, bad weather hampered Magone's efforts to get on-scene, and he was successful only a couple of times, until finally it was confirmed that the vessel had sunk.