Landing craft, with oil truck aboard, capsizes and sinks off Alaska

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
 
(JUNEAU, Alaska) — Recovery efforts continue following the capsizing and sinking of the landing craft, Saltery Provider, in Saltery Cove early Monday.
 
The landing craft sank in 30 feet of water, approximately 20 feet from shore. A fuel truck that was located on the deck of the vessel is currently floating free, but remains tangled in the Saltery Provicer’s cargo boom.
 
Alaska Commercial Divers are on scene and have initiated a salvage plan for approval to the Coast Guard and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.   The initial plan involves lightering the fuel off the fuel truck, craning the fuel truck out, and then raising the Saltery Provider at low tide this evening. The fuel vents of the Saltery Provider have been plugged, however, diesel oil continues to weep from the vessel.
 
The Rudyard Bay, a Southeast Alaska Petroleum Resource Organization (SEAPRO) response vessel, is on scene and has boomed off two adjacent salmon streams prior to laying boom around the Saltery Provider.  Members of Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Ketchikan are also on scene coordinating oil spill recovery efforts and the salvage of the tank truck and landing craft.
 
The Saltery Provider, a 52-foot uninspected landing craft, was at anchor with an oil tank truck on deck when it took on water and capsized in Saltery Cove, Monday at 6 a.m. The vessel has on board approximately 3,500 gallons of diesel while the tank truck contains approximately 2,500 gallons of diesel.
 
By Professional Mariner Staff