M/V Golden Seas

Unified Command

Whenever there is an incident involving more than one agency with jurisdiction, a joint command arrangement, called the Unified Command is implemented. This webpage provides a compilation of general information, reports, press releases, maps and relevant links meant to aid members of the Unified Command and inform the public during a response. Not all information provided here has been jointly approved or endorsed by every member of the Unified Command.

Location: North of Adak Island
Time/Date: At 8:05 AM on December 3, 2010, the US Coast Guard (USCG) reported to ADEC that the vessel Golden Seas was adrift. The crew of the vessel reported the loss of power to the USCG at 12:15 AM on December 3, 2010.
Spill Id: 10259933701
Product/ Quantity: No spill occurred.
Cause: The turbocharger on the ship’s single propulsion engine failed and was not reparable at sea. Without the turbocharger, the ship’s engine was not able to turn propeller with sufficient power to hold vessel in position or make headway in the severe weather it faced.

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Update for December 14

The crew of the tug Tor Viking II is observed by an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules crew moving at 12 mph through 20 foot seas and 46 mph winds 48 miles from the 738-foot cargo vessel Golden Seas in the Bering Sea Dec. 4, 2010. Photo courtesy of the USCG.

The Golden Seas departed Unalaska Bay at 9:45 AM on December 13, bound for the United Arab Emirates (its original destination).
Repairs to the vessel’s turbocharger were completed on December 12 and approved by the Coast Guard. Sea trials were conducted on December 13 and the Golden Seassubsequently departed Dutch Harbor at 9:45 AM that morning.
The ADEC emergency towing package used during this incident is being cleaned and inspected by a contractor in Dutch Harbor. Based on results of the inspection, components will be replaced or retained, and the package will be re-staged at Dutch Harbor for future use. The additional emergency towing system deployed to Adak has been returned to Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.

The 738-foot cargo vessel Golden Seas makes 3.5 mph through 20-foot seas 50 miles north of Adak Island Dec. 3, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

File photo of the Tor Viking II, which is carrying the Emergency Towing System. More information about the Tor Viking at the owner's website, Viking Supply Ships.

Video courtesy of USCG

December 3, 2010

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew locates and makes contact with the crew of the 738-foot Liberian-flagged cargo vessel Golden Seas traveling about 3 mph in 20 foot seas and 46 mph winds 50 miles north of Adak Island Dec. 3, 2010. The Hercules crew also dropped a self locating data marker buoy to collect set, drift, current and temperature information.

December 4, 2010

The Tor Viking II is navigating through the Bering Sea en route to tow the motor vessel Golden Seas which is about 47 miles north of Atka Island to Dutch Harbor Dec. 4, 2010. Coast Guard assets were deployed and diverted to respond to a report by the crew of the Golden Seas who reported an engine turbo-charge failure to the Coast Guard at 4 a.m. Friday limiting power and steerage about 70 miles north of Adak and drifting southeast toward Atka Island.

December 5, 2010

The tug Tor Viking II tows the 738-foot cargo vessel Golden Seas to Dutch Harbor with the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley escorting 50 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor in the Pacific Ocean Dec. 5, 2010. The cargo vessel suffered a turbo-charger failure Dec. 3 limiting its power and steerage and prompting the Coast Guard to deploy and divert assets to respond in the event of an emergency.

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