Blog Post


CROWLEY TUG RUNS AGROUND IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
December 28, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes & Collisions

The 136-foot tug boat, Pathfinder, owned by Crowley Marine Services, has run aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound. The vessel was able to remove itself from the reef and move to nearby sheltered waters, however, divers inspecting the vessel reported that a 4-5 foot section of keel was missing, and three fuel tanks were breached. Two of the three fuel tanks carried diesel fuel, and the third tank was empty. As much as 35,000 gallons of fuel is in danger of being discharged into the environment. Early attempts to skim the diesel fuel from the water were unsuccessful, and Crowley has been given permission to attempt to pump the fuel from the tugs' damaged fuel tanks to the oil-spill response ship, Valdez Star.

The Pathfinder grounding occurred in moderate weather conditions. The Pathfinder had been patrolling oil shipping lanes for ice and was returning to Valdez at the time of the accident. Bligh Reef is well-charted, and the scene of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker grounding, which resulted in Alaska's worst environmental disaster twenty years ago. The diesel fuel spilled from the Pathfinder is not as environmentally dangerous as the 11 million gallons of crude oil that was spilled from the Exxon Valdez. A spokesman for Crowley has indicated that diesel fuel is diluted fairly quickly through dispersion and evaporation.

The long term impact of the Pathfinder accident is unknown. The cause of the accident is under investigation and will likely raise many continuing questions about protecting the safety of Alaska's marine environment from oil spills. In marine casualties such as this, post accident drug and alcohol testing is required by Federal Coast Guard regulations. Alcohol testing results for the Pathfinder's six crewmen reportedly have returned negative, indicating that alcohol was not involved in causing the collision.