Ship Adrift Near Southwest Aleutians

Coast Guard takes action to prevent oil and diesel spill

Tools

By Brendan Joel Kelley-Hellenthal

Story Created: Dec 6, 2011 at 12:25 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Dec 6, 2011 at 12:32 PM AKDT

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation reports the M/V Morning Cedar, operated by Wallenius Marine Singapore, is drifting 30 miles northwest of Tanaga Island in the southwest Aleutians.

The ship's cargo is packaged lumber, and there are 227,000 gallons of bunker C oil and 60,000 gallons of diesel on board.

The Department of Environmental Conservation calls it a "potential spill." The crew reported to the Coast Guard there is a steering casualty, and they were not able to make repairs while they were underway. The ship is drifting northwest, and is projected to drift north for the next 24 hours.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sherman is headed to the M/V Morning Cedar's location, and the Coast Guard is preparing to transport the Emergency Towing System from Adak to the ship's location.

Thus far, no spillage has occurred.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.