SWIFTSURE PRINCE - LOST BARGE INCIDENT
(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)


Satellite photograph showing approximate position of the SWIFTSURE PRINCE at about 11 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2005. Cape Flattery, WA is the point of land at lower right.

Summary Information 

Date of Incident:  
September 8, 2005

Location:  
Cape Flattery Chart

Product/Quantity:  
Diesel aboard, no spill

Cause:  
Unknown

Responsible Party:  
 Unknown
    Saturday, 09/10/05 5:33 a.m.
SWIFTSURE PRINCE - LOST BARGE INCIDENT

After escorting the SEA COMMANDER and the SWIFTSURE PRINCE into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the tug HUNTER was released by the SEA COMMANDER at about 7 p.m. on Friday, September 9.  The SEA COMMANDER, with SWIFTSURE PRINCE in tow, continued slowly eastbound in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard until it checked out of the vessel traffic system at 5:33 a.m. on Saturday, September 10.

 
 

News Items

Photographs

None available

Other Information

  

Friday, 09/09/05 12:45 p.m.

At 1:06 a.m. this morning, Ecology was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard of an incident involving an empty log barge adrift off the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The log barge, SWIFTSURE PRINCE, with two cranes aboard with an integral fuel tank with a capacity of 3,000 gallons (actual amount of diesel oil aboard is unknown) had separated from its tug, the SEA COMMANDER, and was adrift.  An initial attempt to reconnect to the barge by the SEA COMMANDER resulted in damage to the tug.  That damage received temporary repair and the tug returned to the scene to undertake recovery of the barge. The barge was recovered at about 12:45 p.m. by the SEA COMMANDER.

According to information provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, the barge was about 5 miles west-northwest of Cape Flattery, Washington when recovered.  It was drifting southeast at about 0.5 to 1 knot.  Swells of 12- to16-foot were reported.

As a precaution the U.S. Coast Guard retained the Crowley Maritime tug HUNTER to proceed from Bellingham, Washington to the scene to standby to assist.   In addition, a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat and helicopter were on scene.

The National Response Corporation spill response vessel CAPE FLATTERY was put on standby to assist, but did not get underway.

The Makah Tribe and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary were notified. Ecology personnel will continue to coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard to monitor the situation.

The state-funded Rescue Tug at Neah Bay will be on station starting September 15, 2005.