Cougar Ace is now only 30 miles from Herbert Island, Alaska

8/04/06

Anchorage, Alaska

The car carrier Cougar Ace continued its movement to the north throughout Thursday making its way toward the Bering Sea of Alaska to reduce the impact of swells that the ship had been consistently encountering in the North Pacific Ocean, south of the Aleutian Islands chain. As of 10 a.m. Friday, the ship was approximately 30 nautical miles south of Samalga Pass.

Ocean swells, ranging from 6 to 12 feet pose no threat to the vessel's stability but have hampered efforts to install pumps needed to make the initial transfer of water which will help improve the list of the ship.

Weather conditions are reported as southwest winds at 20 knots. Seas are two feet with swells to three feet. The sky is overcast but visibility remains at eight miles.

Crews are working currently to rig a second towline from the tug Sea Victory to the Cougar Ace to improve safety and be more effective in the changing sea conditions. That process is expected to take the better part of the day. Once the new towline is secured crews will wait for the next flood tide through Samalga Pass to transit to the Bering Sea. The Sea Victory has two independent towing systems. The second towline is a precautionary measure for the transit through the pass. This is akin to flying a two engine airplane. If one airplane engine fails the second will keep the aircraft airborne.

As the ship moved northward on Thursday, salvage team members were able to continue work to prepare to shift the liquid load of water to right the ship.

After exiting Samalga Pass the tow master and the Unified Command will continue to assess the condition of the vessel, the tow and the weather as they progress on an easterly track along the Aleutian Islands. Officials stress that adequate maritime assets will remain with the Cougar Ace to monitor and control the vessel and to ensure the protection of all marine resources in the area. The Coast Guard cutters Morgenthau and Sycamore remain on-scene in addition to the tugs Sea Victory and Emma Foss and the utility vessels Redeemer and Makushin Bay. A third tug, the Gladiator, is due to arrive alongside the Cougar Ace on Sunday morning.

Unified Command members are evaluating whether or not to tow the ship to a nearby protected harbor. The decision will not be made until additional surveys of the ship have been made and the salvage team has completed its initial attempt to right the vessel at sea.

From US Coast Guard Press Release

Vessel Position as of 8/3/2006 1100 (PDF 258K)