What Crew Members Say About Sea-Ern

On September 1, the fishing vessel 'Sea Ern', carrying three crew members, ran aground in Izhut Bay, located in the Gulf of Alaska near Afognak Island. The incident occurred when the vessel struck a rock, leading to a distress call broadcast on VHF channel 16 at approximately 6:30 a.m. Fortunately, the good Samaritan vessel 'Kennedy' responded promptly, rescuing the fishermen without any reported injuries. The 'Sea Ern' sustained a substantial 12-foot by 1-foot gash in its bow, causing two fuel tanks in the rear to rupture and resulting in a diesel spill of approximately 3,500 gallons into the surrounding waters. In response, the Coast Guard quickly deployed an oil boom to contain the spread of diesel, along with additional booms placed around a nearby fish hatchery. Sorbent materials were also utilized at the grounding site to assist with the cleanup. The Alaska Chadux Network, known for its expertise in oil spill response, has been contracted for the recovery efforts. It is important to note that the 'Sea Ern' still has an estimated 12,790 gallons of diesel fuel and 300 gallons of various oil products onboard. Both Alaskan authorities and the United States Coast Guard are closely monitoring the situation while an investigation into the grounding incident is underway. Further updates and images can be found in the official report from the Coast Guard.