The fishing vessel Eleon ran aground in Prince William Sound off Evans Island. The Eleon had suffered steering failure and grounded near offshore. The Coast Guard received a partial distress call and launched a Jayhawk to search for the vessel. After the Eleon was located, the 45 foot response boat arrived on scene and towed the fishing boat from the shore. The Eleon was towed back to port. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On March 9, the 51 foot long former fishing vessel Tempest went ashore in the Prince William Sound near Ellamar, Alaska. The Tempest was being used as a barge to shuttle supplies and lumber when it was intentionally beached by its crew after the vessel developed a leak. No reports of injuries. A 100 foot long oil sheen formed around the vessel as the vessel’s fuel tank was damaged in the grounding. Reports state the vessel had some 30 gallons of diesel fuel on board at the time. The Coast Guard has dispatched a team to monitor the situation. The incident is under investigation.
The 81 foot long fishing vessel Savannah Ray went aground in the Bainbridge Passage in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The fishing vessel suffered minimal damage to its bow. The crew contacted the Coast Guard that the vessel aground with 8000 gallons of diesel fuel along with 150,000 pounds of fish on board. The Savannah Ray was refloated on the next high tide. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The Coast Guard monitored the vessel until it arrived in Seward, Alaska.
