| Nordic Viking Off To Seward After Grounding, Fuel Spill |
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| Thursday, 02 August 2007 15:45 | |||
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From the US Coast Guard in Alaska: JUNEAU, Alaska - The fishing vessel (F/V) Nordic Viking, which grounded last Saturday between Valdez and Cordova, has departed Port Gravina enroute to Seward. The tug Redoubt from Homer arrived on Friday to tow the vessel after final plans were approved by the owner, the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Response crews safely transferred 12,113 gallons of diesel fuel off of the vessel, and it is transiting with temporary repairs and a minimal quantity of diesel and oils onboard. The vessel should arrive in Seward late Saturday night, where it is tentatively planning to conduct repairs. Response crews have continued to evaluate the water and beaches in the area for any impact to the environment or wildlife. Shoreline assessment teams comprised of specialists from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Forest Service, NOAA, the Coast Guard and industry found two areas of remaining sheen that were targeted for further evaluation. The assessment teams determined both locations to be best left to naturally dissipate after review determined that cleanup efforts would do more harm than good. There were no discernable impacts to wildlife during the incident. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reopened the fishing grounds that had been closed since Sunday due to the sheening. The cause of the grounding remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.
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