F/V Silver Star; Whale Pass between Afognak Island and Kodiak Island, Alaska

Whale Pass between Afognak Island and Kodiak Island, Alaska |

Initial Notification: On March 26, 1992, the fishing vessel Silver Star ran aground in Whale Pass, Kodiak Island, Alaska, in rough, windy weather. The vessel released from its grounding shortly thereafter, and for a day or so it remained submerged with approximately four feet of the stern sticking out of the water, as it drifted westward in the Kupreanof Strait. A contractor vessel on scene reported that light sheening was emanating from the fuel vents, but, it was believed that the fuel tanks were of high integrity and not likely to rupture. A day later the vessel sank in eight fathoms of water just a few miles northwest of Whale Island. Light sheening continued to be observed. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) called in the Strike Team and a contractor was hired to pump off the remaining fuel. The incident lasted until March 31 when the contractor completed the offloading of approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel. USCG district 17. Keyword: none.