Assessment began Sunday of the damage done by the wreck of a
Malaysian flagged freighter that grounded and broke in two
Wednesday, spilling fuel oil off Unalaska Island in the Aleutian
Island chain. Six crewmen were lost in the rescue effort. The vessel
was carrying about 483,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel oil and
21,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
The vessel is located between Skan Bay and Spray Cape on the
western shore of Unalaska. The area is accessible only by water or
air, and there has been only one aerial survey since the incident,
due to bad weather. The amount of oil in the water and its effect on
wildlife remain unknown, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Approaching the wreck by helicopter Sunday, a salvage team was
able to access the stern half of the ship, but not the bow, although
the fierce winter weather abated somewhat after last week's high
winds and seas.
While transiting the Bering Sea Tuesday night, the 738 foot
Selendang Ayu, carrying a load of soybeans, lost power, and
Wednesday ran hard aground about a quarter mile from Skan Bay in
pounding surf.
Five of the ship's six accessible holds have been breached the
salvors said after their inspection of the wreck. Three cargo holds
containing soybeans, and the stern fuel tank all have small
breaches. One hold appeared to be intact.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the wreck of the
Selendang Ayu while salvage experts are aboard to assess the damage.
(Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)
One of the
tanks that was breached held 40,130 gallons of fuel oil, but not all
of that was necessarily spilled, the Coast Guard said.
Salvage experts on an overflight estimate that there are less
than 2,100 gallons of oil visible from the air.
"We are very thankful that we finally have a good day to start
getting things done," said Coast Guard Captain Ron Morris.
The Unified Command established to handle the Selendang Ayu
incident is coordinating skimming and booming operations in the
environmentally sensitive salmon lakes and streams affected by the
oil spill.
A 100,000 gallon capacity barge, two mini-barges, and a fishing
vessel are en route to the scene for oil containment.
One oil spill response vessel has completed booming operations in
Naginak Cove and plans to begin skimming operations today. A heavy
oil skimming system which was purchased before this incident for use
in Dutch Harbor will be used.
Another vessel will try today to place booms in three creeks at
the east of Skan Bay, if possible, or on beaches behind Makushin Bay
if placement in Skan Bay is not possible.
Two wildlife observers and two bird experts are onboard the
vessel, and they hope to go ashore to conduct a wildlife survey
today.
Waterfowl,
seaducks and seabirds winter in the sheltered bays and nearshore
waters of Unalaska Island, including emperor geese, loons, scoters,
goldeneyes, eiders, harlequin duck, scaup, pigeon guillemot,
auklets, murrelets, cormorants, and kittiwakes. Resident bald eagles
and ravens may scavenge on oiled birds that might wash ashore, the
Service said.
Shoreline habitats in Skan Bay and Makushin Bay include
salt-brackish water marshes, eelgrass beds, and tidal flats that are
important feeding areas for shorebirds and waterfowl during the
spring and summer. There are various seabird nesting colonies
located on cliff faces and offshore rocks that are occupied during
the summer by horned puffin, tufted puffin, common murre,
glaucous-winged gull, black oystercatcher, double-crested cormorant,
pelagic cormorant, and pigeon guillemot.
The lands in the spill area are managed as part of the Alaska
Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Regional Spill Response Coordinator is directing the Service
response from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The 125 foot fishing vessel
Exito, based in Dutch Harbor, will be used as a wildlife recovery
and rehabilitation platform as necessary.
The Selendang Ayu is operated by IMC Shipping of Singapore and
was built in Hudong, China in 1998. Nine crewmen were rescued from
the ship by the U.S. Coast Guard, which crashed a helicopter during
the rescue effort, but six crewmen are missing and presumed drowned.
The search was ended Friday night.
Damage to the freighter has not been assessed to date because of
the challenge of operating in such rough seas.
Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski offered any and all of the
state's resources to the U.S. Coast Guard to help personnel respond
to "this human and environmental tragedy." The governor sent his
offer in a letter Thursday to Commander James Olson of the U.S.
Coast Guard 17th District based in Juneau.
The governor wrote, "This incident serves as a reminder to
Americans of the great dangers Coast Guard personnel face without
hesitation in times of war and in times of peace. Alaskans, of
course, need no reminder as the courage of your crews are on display
almost daily."
