Coast Guard Overflight Video

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew performs an overflight of the tug Pathfinder Dec. 24, 2009, in Prince William Sound. The Pathfinder went aground on Bligh Reef Wednesday evening and the Coast Guard, The Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Conservation, Crowley Marine, Ship Escort Response Vessel System and O'Brien's Group are responding to the grounding. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charly Hengen (via YouTube).

USCG Press Release: Pathfinder response winds down

Press release online has photos from the response: Pathfinder response winds down

VALDEZ, Alaska - The tug Pathfinder was moored at Port of Valdez early Sunday morning after being safely towed from Busby Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Crews will begin to remove fuel from the vessel over the weekend. A limited amount of diesel fuel will remain on board in order to power ship systems while the vessel’s damage is more fully assessed.

The results of the today’s observation flight did not indicate any sign of fuel spilled during the vessel’s transit to Valdez. Crews are decontaminating boom and recovered fuel storage tanks so they can be returned to standby service in local oil spill response inventories.

The Unified Command is maintaining oversight of the operations as crews shift from recovery of the Pathfinder, to equipment clean up and the damage assessment of the tug. The response will transition to project status at 6 p.m. Sunday.

“Crowley remains focused on removing the diesel fuel remaining on the vessel,” said Jim Butler, Crowley information officer. “Once the fuel has been removed, Crowley will conduct a detailed damage assessment of the vessel.”

“Response crews worked long hours during some of the shortest days of the year,” said Steve Russell, environmental specialist with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. “Crews conducted their work with the highest priority on safety and environmental protection.”

The incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard. Crowley is cooperating fully with the investigation while decontaminating the vessels and equipment used and demobilizing resources. Results will be available upon completion of the investigation.

Editors note [USCG's editor]: The Joint Information Center for the Pathfinder response will be standing down at 6 p.m. Sunday. Media should direct specific inquiries to individual agency or company representative.

Updated ADEC Situation Report

ADEC has updated its incident notification page for the Pathfinder grounding. Use this link to access updated situation reports throughout the response. A situation report for December 27, 2009 at 3:00pm is now available. Please note, the next situation report will be released from ADEC as the situation warrants one necessary.

Update on Pathfinder Tug

The Pathfinder tug made it to the dock in Valdez at 0040 this morning (Sunday, December 27). The plan was for the tanks will be measured and then decontamination and demobilization. The Pathfinder is at the Petrostar dock (see photos below). The Valdez Star unloaded the lightered fuel to Petrostar last evening.

PWSRCAC President Steve Lewis comments in ADN article

Council president Steve Lewis talked to the Anchorage Daily News this weekend about the Pathfinder grounding, discussing questions that still need to be answered about the incident.

From the article: ""We will be pursuing the 'why' and the 'how' in order to come up with the 'what' to make sure it doesn't happen again," Lewis said."

More from the Anchorage Daily News: Damaged tug towed slowly from Bligh Reef to Port Valdez

Presentation Prepared by Crowley and ADEC for the December 26, 2009 Regional Stakeholder Committee Meeting (1 of 3)

PWSRCAC participated in today's Regional Stakeholder Committee meeting. Following is the presentation delivered at that meeting (slides 1 through 3).

Presentation Prepared by Crowley and ADEC for the December 26, 2009 Regional Stakeholder Committee Meeting (2 of 3)

PWSRCAC participated in today's Regional Stakeholder Committee meeting. Following is the presentation delivered at that meeting (slides 4 through 6).