A fish processing vessel that went hard aground on Kodiak Island was struck by other problems earlier this year, including a diesel spill and two ammonia leaks.
The 169-foot Pacific Producer grounded in 9-foot tides early Friday while traveling through a narrow passage between Kodiak and Spruce islands. The vessel had just left the city of Kodiak two hours earlier when the mishap occurred in relatively calm seas, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
“It hit the beach fairly hard,” said Steve Russell, the DEC’s state on-scene coordinator.
Crew members likely won’t be able to refloat it until higher tides return next week, responders said Monday.
No one among the 16-member crew was injured and no fuel spilled when it grounded near the Spruce Island village of Ouzinkie, the Coast Guard said. A Samaritan fishing vessel transported 10 of the crew members to Kodiak while six others remained on board.
The vessel, home-ported in Seattle, sustained a 10-inch crack in the hull wall of a water tank, according to the DEC.
Crews are working to repair the hull, Russell said. The gash, however, would not prevent the refloating because the tank is designed to hold water, he said.
But tides up to two feet lower have hampered the crew’s attempt to move the Pacific Producer under its own power after lightering it.
The Coast Guard also is monitoring the Pacific Producer and work is being planned to minimize any pollution threats, including the pending removal of 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel, as well as hydraulic oil, on board the vessel. Francis said the owner has a valid certificate of financial responsibility and is working with a salvage company to remove the vessel.
The vessel is owned by Chris Tsabouris and his Seattle business called East West Seafood. Tsabouris did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
Last week’s grounding adds to a string of problems involving the Pacific Producer in Kodiak.
In January, firefighters responded to reports of an ammonia leak on the vessel, which was docked at a busy commercial pier after crews walked off the job. Another ammonia leak was reported later after the Pacific Producer was moved to St. Herman Harbor.
Days after the first leak, an estimated 150 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the water, according to the Coast Guard.
The Kodiak Daily Mirror said a former employee was accused of damaging the vessel’s engines with an ax in February.
Kodiak harbor master Marty Owen said the vessel has been in Kodiak since October and this was the first time it left to process fish. It sat idle for months while Tsabouris was outside the state trying to raise operating capital, according to Owen. He said Tsabouris still owes significant moorage fees to the city and is not likely to keep the vessel any longer, Owen said.
Owen described the Pacific Producer as part of a “fly-by-night” operation that appears to be underfunded. But he was puzzled by the grounding, saying he didn’t know how the vessel could have landed on a steep beach.