OCEAN EAGLE

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Tug towed to Ketchikan after grounding

The "Ocean Eagle" was towed to Ketchikan by commercial tugs for repairs on Mar 5 following its grounding at Mariposa Reef in the Sumner Strait on Mar 2. The "Ocean Eagle"’s barge was towed to Sitka where a Marine Inspector conducted additional damage assessments before the barge continued its planned voyage. Brusco Tug & Barge, the owner of the "Ocean Eagle", had contracted Alaska Commercial Divers to conduct underwater hull surveys of both the tug and barge in Alvin Cove after the grounding. Temporary repairs were made by the divers to cracks in the tug’s hull. Minor damage was noted on the barge. Transit plans for both vessels were submitted and approved by the federal on scene coordinator from Coast Guard Sector Juneau and the state on-scene coordinator from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Minor oil sheening was observed upon the initial grounding. No additional pollution has been reported. Weather on scene was 20-knot winds from the north, four-foot seas, and 10 miles of visibility.

Divers inspected grounded tug and barge

There was no damage to the barge that ran aground late in the night of Mar 2 about 80 miles southeast of Sitka, but there was a small oil sheen spotted around the area. The "Ocean Eagle" was sailing through the Sumner Strait with a barge in tow when she grounded on Mariposa Reef. A helicopter from Air Station Sitka rescued the tug’s crew of five. The U.S. Coast Guard cutters "Liberty" and "Maple" arrived on scene Thursday morning, along with two additional tugs contracted by Brusco Tug & Barge, the owner of the "Ocean Eagle". In the morning of Mar 3, Alaska commercial divers inspected the barge and reported no damage. As of 2:30 p.m. divers were gearing up to inspect the tug’s hull for damage as well. There were 110,000 gallons of diesel aboard of which an estimated 15 gallons of diesel spilled from the tug’s day tank. Brusco Tug & Barge plans to tow the barge to Sitka. Pending the dive team’s assessment, the "Ocean Eagle" will be transported to Ketchikan. Report with photo: https://www.kcaw.org/2017/03/03/fifteen-gallons-fuel-spilled-tug-no-damage-grounded-barge/

Tug and barge grounded on Mariposa Reef

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk crew rescued five people after the "Ocean Eagle" ran aground on the Mariposa Reef on the south side of Strait Island in Sumner Strait on Mar 2, 2017. The aircrew hoisted them from a barge attached to tug and transported them to Sitka after the tug began taking on water in the night of Mar 1. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Juneau received a report at 7:15 p.m. from the crew of the "Ocean Eagle" that the tug and barge ran aground on Mariposa Reef and began taking on water in the engine room. The crew of the "Ocean Eagle" reported the tug was carrying a total of 220 tons of diesel fuel divided among several tanks. The barge is carrying mixed dry cargo and 200 tons of diesel. Any discharge of product was unknown, and Sector Juneau is in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for oil trajectory calculations. The Ocean Eagle and barge refloated and drifted to Alvin Cove at approximately 3 a.m. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter "Liberty" arrived on scene at approximately 7:30 a.m. with pollution response equipment. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter "Maple" arrived shortly thereafter. Both Coast Guard cutters remained on scene assessing the situation, looking for signs of pollution and verifying nearby aids to navigation. Commercial tugs contracted by the Ocean Eagle’s owner were on scene to dewater, effect repairs and mitigate potential pollution. Weather on scene was 34-mph winds with 6-foot seas and 11.5 miles of visibility. Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/512320/air-station-sitka-rescues-5-tug-ocean-eagle