Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Ship Adrift Near Southwest Aleutians
Coast Guard takes action to prevent oil and diesel spill
By Brendan Joel Kelley-Hellenthal
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.
