Motor Vessel Selendang Ayu Unified Command
April 5, 2005 Contact: Joint Information Center (907) 581-7158 Coast Guard information officer: (907) 581-7158 State of Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation information officer: (907) 321-5491 Responsible party's information officer: (845) 629-0259 |
Unified Command Press Release |
Anchorage, Alaska - The Unified Command in charge of the motor vessel Selendang Ayu response is transitioning from winter to spring operations with the arrival of Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT) on Unalaska Island. Today, team members are receiving training, and up to four teams will begin shoreline assessments on Wednesday, April 6, 2005. The initial SCAT process is expected to continue for up to six weeks. SCAT involves teams of trained observers surveying the affected coastal area to provide an accurate assessment of shoreline oiling conditions on each beach. The SCAT team will provide appropriate information for decisions regarding shoreline treatment and cleanup operations and tactics, using a standard set of terms and definitions for documentation. Teams represent the interests of federal and state agencies, the responsible party, and representatives of owners of oiled property. The full extent of the area to be surveyed includes: Umnak Island East, (the coastline from Cape Tanak to Otter Point), Unalaska Island (from Konets Head on the Southwest end to Brundage Head on the Eastern end), Unalga Island (Baby Islands shoreline), and Akutan Island West (coastline from Open Bight to Battery Point). The Unified Command expects shoreline cleanup crews to begin acting on SCAT clean-up recommendations on or about April 15, 2005. The 738-foot-freighter Selendang Ayu grounded and broke in two on December 8, 2004, just offshore of Spray Cape, Unalaska, Alaska. The vessel was carrying soybeans and approximately 470,000 gallons of fuel oil (IFO380). |
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