The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(JUNEAU, Alaska) — The Unified Command for the Princess Kathleen Assessment delayed dive operations here Monday due to inclement weather.
A team of divers will conduct an initial dive assessment, conduct an ultrasound of the hull’s integrity and assess the amount of fuel onboard. Based on that information the Unified Command will determine if it is safe to to remove the oil from the vessel.
Dive operations will continue as soon as weather permits.
A media availability boat ride will also be scheduled.
The 369-foot Princess Kathleen, a Canadian Pacific Railroad vessel built in 1925, grounded and sank near Lena Point in 1952 carrying an esitmated 155,000 gallons of fuel. The Princess Kathleen now rests on a slope in 80 to 140 feet of water and continues to periodically cause small unrecoverable oil sheens in the area.
For more information please visit: the Princess Kathleen Unified Command website at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/princesskathleen
