Date: July 29, 2006
Public Affairs Contacts:
U.S. Coast Guard: Petty Officer Sara Francis (907) 321-4510

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines: Greg Beuerman (504) 524-3342

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation: Lynda Giguere (907) 321-5491

Unified Command Press Release

Motor Vessel Cougar Ace situation update

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Unified Command is continuing to work the Cougar Ace incident. Plans for surveying the vessel are being made. Experts are running models to determine the best way to right the vessel and tow it to safety. Contingency plans to respond to a potential oil spill or the vessel grounding also continue to be developed.

The Cougar Ace was at last report 126 nautical miles south of Amlia Island in the Aleutian Island chain. It has been adrift since approximately 1 a.m. Monday. The vessel is being pushed by the wind at about one point seven knots. Since about 4 p.m. Wednesday the vessel was on a mostly northern route. Friday it took a east north east course. It is still on that course. The 378-foot Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau is on scene monitoring the Cougar Ace for signs of pollution and tracking its movement.

Five other vessels are being used to respond to the Cougar Ace. Some vessels are on scene and some are still en route.

• Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau - Cutter departed Dutch Harbor late Thursday night after taking on fuel and stores. Salvage equipment was placed on board in Dutch Harbor. They relieved the cutter Rush today at noon.  
• Tug Sea Victory - The vessel is a Crowley Marine tug from Seattle. It was dispatched Wednesday and is still expected to arrive on scene Monday.
• Tug Emma Foss - The Emma Foss is a Foss Maritime tug from Seattle not Dutch Harbor. The vessel was diverted from another mission when it was in the vicinity of Adak Wednesday. In Adak it took on salvage and towing equipment. It arrived on scene today. The crew is currently conducting a detailed survey of the Cougar Ace to document the vessels condition and access points. 
• Makushin Bay - The vessel belongs to Magone Marine, homeported in Dutch Harbor. The Makushin Bay departed Dutch Harbor late Thursday with salvage specialists from Titan Maritime aboard. They will arrive on scene early Sunday.
• Coast Guard cutter Sycamore - The Sycamore is a 225-foot sea going buoy tender from Cordova. The vessel is en route with spill equipment on board. It is expected to arrive Wednesday.

Once the Makushin Bay is on scene the various salvage experts will assess the condition of the vessel and report salvage options to the Unified Command for action.  Those reports will provide for accurate plans to right the vessel and safely tow it. Additional salvage equipment is being staged in Dutch Harbor.

Weather conditions on scene are reported as 12 knot winds from the southwest. Sea state is one foot seas with three foot swells. Conditions are overcast with intermittent rain and dense fog.

The amount of fuel on board has been confirmed as 113,500 gallons of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 380 and 33,000 gallons of marine diesel.

Additional information, images and fact sheets may be found on the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation website at:  http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/perp/response/sum_fy07/060728201/060728201_index.htm