Inside Look at the USCG Response to the Golden Sea
Fierce Arctic winds and towering 30-foot seas assaulted a 738-foot freighter with 20 crewmembers aboard finding themselves helplessly adrift with limited engine power in the midst of an ice-cold storm 70 miles north of Adak. Trouble loomed on the horizon as they were drifting toward land carrying more than 132,277 pounds of rape seed used to make canola oil, 450,000 gallons of fuel oil and 11,700 gallons of diesel fuel with the only help more than 400 miles away. In the midst of the Golden Seas’ voyage to the United Arab Emirates the crew experienced a turbo-charger failure Dec. 3 2010.
USCG Photo: Golden Seas Anchored Near Dutch Harbor
The bulk carrier Golden Seas was towed into anchoring position in Broad Bay near Dutch Harbor by the tug Tor Viking II Dec. 7. The Tor Viking II rendezvoused with the Golden Seas and was able tow the ship more than 500 miles along the Aleutian Islands to safe harbor near Dutch Harbor.
Golden Seas Assisted at Sea by Tor Viking II
The crew of the 738-ft Golden Seas reported an engine turbo-charge failure to the Coast Guard at 4 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3, limiting power and steerage about 70 miles north of Adak and drifting southeast toward Atka Island. The Golden Seas is carrying Canola seed from Vancouver, Canada to the United Arab Emirates. The Tor Viking II, a 251-ft towing vessel outfitted with four engines totaling 18,300 horse power, reached the bulk carrier Golden Seas at approximately 5:30 p.m., Dec. 4, and was able to successfully attach towlines and began the tow at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
