Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Sivumut

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released a significant report detailing the circumstances surrounding the sealift spill that took place on October 27, 2023, near Iqaluit. The unfortunate incident involved an overloaded barge that resulted in an injured worker and the loss of 23 sea cans into Frobisher Bay. According to the report, which was made public on October 7, 2025, the 'Sivumut' barge had anchored in Frobisher Bay on October 23, following a five-day journey from Quebec. Due to the Iqaluit deep-sea port's dock being occupied, the unloading process began on October 24 using tugged barges. On October 27, at around 4:08 p.m., the tug 'Qimmiq' was tasked with pulling the barge 'Tasijuaq', which was burdened with 24 sea cans. The situation became critical as the barge tilted dangerously to one side twice before capsizing at 4:14 p.m., causing both the assistant tug operator and the 23 sea cans to plummet into the icy waters below. A crane operator on the 'Sivumut' quickly notified a crew member, leading to the deployment of a rescue boat just one minute later. The tug operator located the unconscious assistant, who was equipped with a personal flotation device, at 4:19 p.m. A successful rescue was completed by 4:23 p.m., and the injured worker was on a boat headed for medical assistance shortly thereafter. He was treated for hypothermia and subsequently flown to Ottawa for further care before making a recovery. The salvage operation commenced at 4:35 p.m., but by the conclusion of the 2023 sealift season, seven of the sea cans remained unrecovered, leaving six still at large. The TSB's analysis identified that the 'Tasijuaq' was operating under a 'dynamic state' — affected by environmental conditions such as wind and waves, resulting in compromised stability. The barge was carrying 342 tonnes, significantly exceeding its capacity of 210 tonnes, which contributed to the incident. Furthermore, it was noted that the crew aboard the 'Sivumut' lacked adequate knowledge regarding the barge's weight limits. However, the quick actions taken to fit the tug assistant with a flotation device may have saved his life, as did the prompt rescue efforts which prevented him from suffering severe hypothermia. The report did not provide specific recommendations, but emphasized the importance of adhering to recognized safety standards in marine operations. In response to the findings, NEAS has initiated improved safety measures, including the introduction of new loading guidelines for barges, the addition of recovery devices on tug boats, and the marking of safety lines on the barge deck. NEAS is currently conducting a thorough review of the TSB’s report and its recommendations.

A thorough 15-day response to leaking containers aboard the 'BBC Arizona' wrapped up on May 14, with the Coast Guard captain of the port for Prince William Sound lifting the restrictions that had kept the vessel docked at Port Valdez. Following inspections by Coast Guard personnel, it was confirmed that all conditions set forth in the captain of the port order were satisfactorily met, and the ship no longer posed any environmental or safety threats. Subsequently, the 'BBC Arizona' was permitted to leave in the evening hours. On June 15, the vessel arrived in the Gulf of Alaska as it navigated toward Mazatlán, Mexico, with an estimated time of arrival on June 24. Concurrently, demobilization efforts for the response team and equipment commenced. This incident saw the collaboration of over 50 personnel from various organizations, including the Coast Guard, State of Alaska, City of Valdez, Gallagher Marine Systems, LLC, Emerald Alaska Inc., Alaska Chadux, North Star Terminal and Stevedore Company, along with several marine survey companies. Unified command operations were expected to wrap up by June 16. In light of the incident, Coast Guard officials issued a federal notice of violation to the vessel's owner for failing to report hazardous conditions promptly, which carries a penalty of $5,000. On June 14, the last of the oil-filled containers were safely transferred to a shoreside decontamination facility, where they were emptied and cleaned before being returned to the ship. Emerald Alaska Inc. also successfully completed the cleanup and decontamination of the 'BBC Arizona's' deck. Empty flexi-tanks were cleaned and repackaged in DOT-approved heavy lift bags, designed for safe containment, and subsequently secured in clean, lined containers for further investigation. At the Valdez Container Terminal, eight frac tanks holding a total of 130,489 gallons of non-contaminated transformer oil, removed from the ship's containers, remain in storage. Field tests confirmed an absence of PCBs, a hazardous material frequently linked with transformer oil. Given that the non-contaminated oil qualifies as a commodity, its owner intends to sell it following U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations, aligning with the state's temporary storage requirements and any other directives from the Port of Valdez. After the sale is finalized, the oil will be transferred from the frac tanks into approved containers for transport. Furthermore, Emerald Alaska Inc. is responsible for the disposal of any contaminated oil, oily water, used sorbent pads, personal protective equipment, and other waste generated during the response, adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing. For more detailed reporting and images, visit: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1803083/Response-to-leaking-containers-aboard-BBC-Arizona-concludes-demobilization-begins-in-Valdez-Alaska#sthash.tgvry7WT.dpuf

On June 13, 2013, Emerald Alaska Inc. initiated a comprehensive cleanup operation in Valdez, focusing on the freight containers of the vessel 'BBC Arizona' (IMO: 9433123). Utilizing a vacuum truck, personnel efficiently extracted oil from bladders that were found to be leaking. After the careful removal of the bladders, each one underwent thorough inspection, followed by extensive cleaning to eliminate any residual oil. This meticulous effort was part of a coordinated response led by Unified Command, which included the Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the City of Valdez, and Gallagher Marine Systems, LLC. Following the cleaning process, the containers were reloaded onto the foreship of 'BBC Arizona' in a designated decontamination area. Emerald Alaska Inc. ensured that the vessel's deck was completely cleaned and oil-free prior to returning the containers to the ship. For further details and visuals of the operation, you can view the complete report with photos here: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1802007/Photo-Release-BBC-Arizona-cleanup-continues-in-Valdez#sthash.wwU479Gk.dpuf.

Cleanup operations in Valdez made significant progress as responders worked diligently to offload, inspect, and decontaminate mineral oil containers from the vessel 'BBC Arizona' during the period of June 10-12, 2013. The oil extracted from these containers was safely transferred to temporary storage tanks. Team members from North Star Terminal and Stevedore Company utilized a crane to lift the containers onto a specialized rack for thorough cleaning underneath. Emerald Alaska Inc. staff meticulously scrubbed the bottoms of the containers prior to a thorough inspection by U.S. Coast Guard personnel, who ensured that all remnants of oil were eliminated before the containers were returned to the deck of the cargo ship. For a detailed report accompanied by photos and videos, visit the Coast Guard news release here: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1801035/Multimedia-Release-BBC-Arizona-cleanup-underway-in-Valdez#sthash.QxHtaMnk.dpuf.