SAMSON MARINER

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Tug ‘Samson Mariner’ Headed to Seattle for Repairs

The damaged tug Samson Mariner is returning to Seattle, Washington for repairs after running aground last week while towing a barge in Alaska’s Inside Passage northwest of Ketchikan. The U.S. Coast Guard approved a transit plan for the tug Samson Mariner to head south for repairs in Seattle with an escort tug. Both vessels departed Ketchikan on Tuesday. The Samson Mariner was towing the barge St. Elias when it ran aground and released approximately 1,100 gallons of fuel in the vicinity of Rosa Reef in north Tongass Narrows, Alaska, on February 15. An oil sheen was reported in the area following the incident. The barge, St Elias, had temporary repairs made in Ketchikan. The Coast Guard has also approved a plan for a tug owned by Brusco Tug & Barge Co to tow the barge and continue to Dutch Harbor. Permanent repairs will be made when St Elias returns to Seattle. The U.S. Coast Guard worked in partnership with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Alaska Commercial Divers in response to the grounding. “Our crews and partner agencies worked tenaciously to mitigate the fuel and bring the Tongass Narrows back to normal, not only for the environment but also the local maritime community,” said Cmdr. Michael Kahle, Coast Guard Sector Juneau chief of response. No sheen or further pollution has been reported. http://gcaptain.com/115082-2/

Transit plan for damaged tug approved

The US Coast Guard approved the transit plan for the "Samson Mariner" to head south for repairs in Seattle with an escort tug. Both departed Ketchikan on Feb 21. The barge "St Elias" had temporary repairs made in Ketchikan. The Coast Guard approved a plan for a tug owned by Brusco Tug & Barge Co. to tow the "St. Elias" and continue to Dutch Harbor. Permanent repairs will be made when the "St. Elias" returns to Seattle. Coast Guard personnel worked in partnership with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Alaska Commercial Divers in response to the grounding of the "Samson Mariner". The vessel ran aground and released approximately 1,100 gallons of fuel in the vicinity of Rosa Reef in north Tongass Narrows on Feb. 15. No sheen or further pollution has been reported.

Tug ran aground and was breached

The Coast Guard Station Ketchikan sent a boat crew and the Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan pollution team responded to the "Samson Mariner" which ran aground while towing the barge "Saint Elias" in the vicinity of north Tongass Narrows in Rosa Reef, Alaska, in the evening of Feb 15, 2017. The Coast Guard Juneau received notification via VHF-FM radio that the tug had suffered a minor breach in the hull. The South East Petroleum Response Organization (SEAPRO) responded on scene and deployed containment boom around the tug which had 30,000 gallons of fuel on board, while the barge was carrying 40,000 gallons of diesel. Unified Command was formed with ADEC, USCG, and Samson Tug & Barge Inc. to manage the incident response. Approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel spilled from the tug prior to being patched by Alaska Commercial Divers Inc. which had been deployed to the scene at 10 p.m. during the night. Three Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization tugs took the barge to Ward Cove where it was anchored and assessed for damage. The Coast Guard, in partnership with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Alaska Commercial Divers continued their response to the tug which meanwhile has been refloated and was anchored in Ward Cove alongside the barge. Both vessels were encircled with 1,000 feet of containment boom by SEAPRO. The NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator made a fate and effects and trajectory assessment. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew conducted an overflight win the Tongass Narrows with Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan personnel aboard to determine the extent of any possible sheen or environmental impacts. Tongass Narrows is located northwest of Ketchikan and is part of Southeast Alaska’s sheltered Inside Passage. As of 11:00 a.m. a petroleum sheen extended approximately three miles beginning at the incident location to the north end of Pennock Island. The sheen was approximately 200 yards wide at the leading edge. SEAPRO has been tasked with fuel containment and recovery using boom and absorbent pads. The sheen was expected to break up within the next 12 to 24 hours, with scattered sheens potentially still visible under the low wind conditions forecast. Although not expected to impact sensitive areas or wildlife, the Coast Guard routinely collaborated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mitigate these risks. SEAPRO continued to assess the petroleum sheen in the Tongass Narrows to determine the feasibility of recovery and to monitor the "Samson Mariner" and the "Saint Elias" in Ward Cove and maintain the containment boom. The Unified Command continued to manage the incident. Current weather on scene was 14 mile per hour winds and calm seas. The tug and barge were due to arrive in Valdez, on Feb 19. It was unclear at this point if the schedule has changed. Report and photos: http://www.akbizmag.com/Transportation/Tug-Samson-Mariner-Grounding-Ketchikan/ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C41RklGUYAArf_x.jpg