ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Crowley tug Twi-lite remains grounded in the Wood River near Aleknagik, north of Dillingham in Western Alaska.
Response efforts continued into the evening Wednesday and have resumed this morning.
The crew of the tug has successfully transferred 1900 gallons of diesel fuel from the tug to the previously empty inspected barge Sea-Lite that the tug was pushing at the time of the incident. As a precaution the tug and barge are completely encircled with containment boom.
Petty Officers Terry Hasenauer and Bryan Shay, of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, observed the transfer and monitored safety conditions. They also conducted a one mile down stream assessment of the shoreline of the river and saw no pollution or impacted wildlife.
The vessel’s stability was not affected by the coming and going of the high tide.
Crowley representatives are continuing to work today with the Coast Guard and Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation to develop a salvage plan for the vessel.
An assist tug, also a Crowley asset, is scheduled to arrive Friday morning.
The Twi-lite is a U.S. flagged 74-foot triple screw vessel with a 3-foot 6 inch draft and 975 horsepower. It was built in 1981. It grounded at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
