Afognak Strait, Alaskan Limit
Afognak is the name of an island, and a mountain in the northern part of the Kodiak Archipelago. It is also the name of a passage between little Whale Island and Afognak Island on the shores of which Kevin O’Leary has 143 wilderness acres and a cabin. So when it came to naming their new boat it is the passage, Afognak Straits, that Kevin O’Leary and his vessel partner, Walter Sargent, chose for their new longliner. Delivered by Fred Wahl Marine of Reedsport Oregon this past summer the Afognak Straits is currently, as of September 20, in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Genei Maru No. 7 Waste Removal Operations Continue
A unified command including the Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Alaska Department of Environmental (ADEC), Crowley Marine Services, and FOSS Environmental Services, today continued waste removal operations on a Japanese squid catcher that ran hard aground on Afognak Island November 10. The contractors continue to work to remove the hazardous and solid waste aboard the vessel but will not be salvaging the 97-ft. vessel. After reviewing the salvage assessment the Federal On Scene Coordinator and the State On Scene Coordinator determined that salvaging the vessel at this time isn’t feasible. “We will continue to remove the hazardous materials, oils and other solid waste,” said Capt. Ron Morris, Federal On Scene Coordinator.
Clean-up Begins for Grounded Vessel
The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Anchorage continues to monitor the Genei Maru No. 7, which was reported aground in Kazakof Bay on Afognak Island Sunday. KK Yamatsu Anichi Shoten, the Japanese company that owns the Genei Maru No. 7, will take responsibility for the clean-up and salvage of the vessel. The Coast Guard has contracted with Crowley Marine in Seward to lighten the vessel by removing the fuel and oils onboard. Crowley mobilized their tug and barge at 6 a.m. this morning. They are expected to arrive on scene Wednesday. The Coast Guard estimates the vessel has 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard as well as an unknown amount of miscellaneous oils. The 97-ft. vessel, adrift since May, may have an unstable refrigerant system.
