Coast Guard, partner agencies monitor container ship lubricant leak in Anchorage, Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/07/2022 01:27 AM EDT

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News Release

  

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 463-2065
After Hours: (907) 654-4122
17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies monitor container ship lubricant leak in Anchorage, Alaska

 

The skyline of the city of Anchorage as seen from the dredge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District contracts to maintain the Port of Alaska to keep the waterway safe for navigation. The Westport, a 2,000-cubic-yard hopper dredge operated by Manson Construction, clears built-up sediments on the seafloor that prevent large ships from coming through. When it has accumulated large amounts, it dumps the material further off shore so that the sediment is washed out to sea. (U.S. Army photo by Rachel Napolitan)

Photo shows the skyline of the city of Anchorage.

U.S. Army photo by Rachel Napolitan.

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Coast Guard personnel are working with partner agencies to monitor a lubricant leak from a container ship transiting to Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday. 

On Thursday evening, personnel at the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center received a notification that the Maunalei, a 645-foot container ship, was leaking lubricant while transiting to the Port of Alaska.  

The vessel, owned by Matson, Inc., was reportedly discharging a biodegradable, environmentally acceptable lubricant at a rate of approximately six gallons per hour. Given the low toxicity of the lubricant, the strong tidal currents and the slow release rate, threats to the wildlife and resources in the region are anticipated to be minimal.

"The vessel contains perishable cargo and other supplies for distribution throughout Alaska," said Capt. Leanne Lusk, the Captain of the Port of Anchorage. "After coordinating with federal, state and local stakeholders and balancing the risk to the supply chain with the risk to the environment, I have authorized the vessel to continue its transit into Anchorage."

Following the offload of cargo, Matson employees have arranged for the vessel to transit to dry dock in the lower 48 to begin repairs.  

 

-USCG-