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Tag: Alaska

Barge Disappeared

Barge Disappeared

Photo: Canadian Coast Guard
Photo: Canadian Coast Guard

On October 24, the NTCL barge broke free from its towline and went adrift in the Beaufort Sea.  The 134 foot long self-propelled barge was under tow headed to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada after delivering supplies when it encountered a heavy storm in the Beaufort Sea.  When the towline parted, the tug continued on its way to Tuktoyaktuk instead of risking the crew in the storm.   The tug was able to reach port safely while the barge was driven westerly by the storm.

Canadian and US authorities dispatched aircraft to monitor the barge.  Reports state that there where little resources in the area as ice is quickly forming in the Beaufort Sea.  The barge owner, Northern Transportation Company, has attempted to rescue the vessel, but can’t find any available tugs in the area.

Photo: uscg
Photo: uscg

Five days later, the barge was last spotted off Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. However, flights during the following days were unable to locate the barge. Authorities believe the vessel could have frozen in the ice some 10 miles offshore or possibly sank.  Flights will continue and a GPS tracker will be dropped on the vessel if it spotted again. Reports state there are some concerns about pollution as some 3,500 litres of diesel fuel were still in the barge’s tanks.

Barge aground off Kodiak

Barge aground off Kodiak

DBL106 - Bismarck Sea
Photo: tugboatinformation.com

The 382 foot long tanker-barge DBL 106 ran aground near Kodiak, Alaska.  The tanker-barge,  loaded with an undisclosed amount of fuel, was being towed by the 124 foot long, 469 dwt tug Bismarck Sea when it ran aground 2 miles from Kodiak.  The barge was successfully refloated and was taken to an anchorage where it could be inspected.  No reports of injuries, damage or pollution.  A boom will be placed around the DBL 106 to contain any potential pollution. The Coast Guard have dispatched inspection personnel to the scene while aircraft will conduct an overflight as part of the assessment.

Voyager

Voyager

The passenger ship Voyager ran aground on Little Island near Juneau, Alaska. The Voyager was on a day cruise with 14 passengers went it ran aground.  The vessel contacted  the Coast Guard who dispatched a 25 foot long response boat to the scene. The Coast Guard assisted in transferring the 14 passengers off the Voyager to another nearby tour boat.  No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Voyager was later refloated and escorted to Auke Bay.