Coast Guard, ADEC respond after 81-foot tug sinks at pier in Sitka, Alaska

united states coast guard

News Release  

April 22, 2017

LT Jennifer Ferreira
Public Affairs Officer
Coast Guard Sector Juneau
(907) 463-2835

 

JUNEAU, Alaska - Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Sitka and Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation personnel are responding to a tug
that sank at the Samson Tug and Barge Company pier on Wednesday night in
Sitka.
Samson Tug and Barge Company has contracted Southeast Alaska Petroleum
Response Organization for oil recovery and Hanson Maritime to dive
and survey the tug.  Samson Tug and Barge Company is developing a salvage
plan. 
The sunken tug, Powhatan, is an 81-foot vessel owned by Samson Tug and Barge
Company that had been out of service for over ten years.  The tug's total
fuel capacity is 20,000 gallons.  Samson Tug and Barge Company reported only
the forward fuel tank had been in use recently with a maximum capacity of
2,500 gallons and the other fuel tanks had previously been drained.  The
vessel sank at the pier on Wednesday evening and subsequently slid under the
pier approximately 200 yards along an underwater ledge. Some residual diesel
fuel and oil is leaking from the sunken vessel.  SEAPRO has placed boom
around the vessel to contain the leak. The cause of the sinking is still
under investigation. 
"Our top priority is to protect public health, safety, and limit
environmental impact as we work with the contracted companies to contain and
clean-up the spill," said Petty Officer 1st Class Ken Farah, federal on
scene coordinator representative for the incident. "The Coast Guard and
Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation are working together to guarantee an
aggressive and effective response."
Weather on scene is partly cloudy, air temperature 56 degrees, East winds at
11 mph, 2 foot seas.