On April 20, the barge Beachmaster IV washed ashore near Lake Worth Inlet, Singer Island, Florida. The empty barge was being towed by the 30 meter long tugboat Na Hoku when it broke free while the crew change. The barge washed up on the beach, but was undamaged. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The Coast Guard has reported the barge will be pulled off the beach shortly.
On April 7, the 35 meter long tugboat Gene Dunlap ran ashore at Seattle, Washington. The Gene Dunlap was under tow by another tugboat heading to a nearby drydock when the vessel suffered water ingress. To avoid sinking, the tugboat pushed the Gene Dunlap into shallow water. Assisted by authorities, the crew was able to dewater the Gene Dunlap and make repairs. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On March 1, the 31 meter long tugboat Ocean Eagle ran aground on Mariposa Reef near Sitka, Alaska. The Ocean Eagle has proceeding through the Sumner Strait with a barge loaded with containers when it ran hard aground on a reef. The Coast Guard received a report the Ocean Eagle grounding and the tug had suffered water ingress in the engine room.
A Jayhawk Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched from Sitka and hoisted all five crew off the Ocean Eagle. No reports of injuries. Two Coast Guard cutters along with two tugs arrived on scene on March 2 to assist in salvage operations. A small sheen was spotted around the Ocean Eagle. The master of the Ocean Eagle stated the sheen was limited to a small amount of diesel fuel released from the tug’s day tank.
The following day, divers inspected the hull for damage. Tugs completed dewatering the Ocean Eagle and was refloated. The barge remained aground as a section was almost up on the shoreline. Reports state the barge and tugboat had some 110,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board at the time. The Ocean Eagle is to be towed to Ketchikan and the barge is to be refloated and towed to Sitka.