Unified Command: Pathfinder Grounding 

The Coast Guard, State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Crowley Marine Services have established a unified command and are working jointly to address the environmental impact and response efforts concerning the grounding of the tug Pathfinder

Date: Dec 27, 2009
Contact:  JIC: 907-834-4927
USCG: 907-835-7209
Crowley: 907-398-8666
ADEC: 907-262-5210; ext: 234, 907-398-4368
News Release

Pathfinder response winds down

VALDEZ, Alaska – Response crewmembers clean residual fuel and contamination from equipment at the decontamination site set up at the Valdez container terminal Dec. 27, 2009. The equipment was used to help contain and mitigate any potential environmental impact from fuel spilled during the grounding of the tug Pathfinder upon Bligh reef, Prince William Sound, Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley   VALDEZ, Alaska – Response crewmembers clean residual fuel and contamination from equipment at the decontamination site set up at the Valdez container terminal Dec. 27, 2009. The equipment was used to help contain and mitigate any potential environmental impact from fuel spilled during the grounding of the tug Pathfinder upon Bligh reef, Prince William Sound, Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley   VALDEZ, Alaska – Response crewmembers clean residual fuel and contamination from equipment at the decontamination site set up at the Valdez container terminal Dec. 27, 2009. The equipment was used to help contain and mitigate any potential environmental impact from fuel spilled during the grounding of the tug Pathfinder upon Bligh reef, Prince William Sound, Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley

VALDEZ, Alaska - The tugboat Pathfinder safely moored at the Valdez Petroleum Terminal in the Port of Valdez, awaits further inspection of damage casued during the grounding and removal of remaining fuel from onboard tanks Dec. 27, 2009. Response crews spent three days working to prepair the Pathfinder for tow back to Valdez after the vessel struck Bligh reef, Prince William Sound, Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley   VALDEZ, Alaska - The tugboat Pathfinder safely moored at the Valdez Petroleum Terminal in the Port of Valdez, awaits further inspection of damage casued during the grounding and removal of remaining fuel from onboard tanks Dec. 27, 2009. Response crews spent three days working to prepair the Pathfinder for tow back to Valdez after the vessel struck Bligh reef, Prince William Sound, Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley   VALDEZ, Alaska – Steve Russell, environmental specialist with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Mark DeLozier, operations section chief with O’Brien’s Response Management work as part of the joint incident command during the Pathfinder recovery and clean-up operations, Dec. 27, 2009. The incident command was set up in response to the Tug Pathfinders grounding upon Bligh Reef Dec. 23, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley

Editors note:  Please click on the above image for a high resolution photo.

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:  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.

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