USCG responds to tanker aground near Nunivak Island, Alaska
The Coast Guard is responding to a report of the 599-foot Norway flagged chemical tanker Champion Ebony after it ran aground near Nunivak Island, Alaska, Friday morning, the USCG said in a press release.
The crew of Champion Ebony was able to refloat the vessel and make way under its own power to deeper water at approximately 9:28 a.m., reported no signs of pollution, and is anchored to assess for damages.
Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a report from the National Response Center at 9:24 a.m. that the vessel Champion Ebony ran aground carrying approximately 14.2 million gallons of various fuel products.
The captain of Champion Ebony reported that no pollution or injuries resulted from the incident. An Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules airplane crew conducted an over-flight of the tanker and reported no signs of pollution in the vicinity of the tanker.
“Our primary concern is to protect the environment,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Lindsey Green, a Sector Anchorage watchstander. “The Coast Guard takes tanker grounding reports seriously and we are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.”
The Champion Ebony is a double-hulled vessel that had 24 crewmembers aboard at the time of the incident.
Weather on scene is reported as calm winds, overcast with 3-foot seas.
