The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(VALDEZ, Alaska) — Alaska Marine Response LLC shifted the 77-foot integrated tug and barge Hook Point-Alaganik to shoreside storage on Thursday after being refloated and towed by Alaska Marine Response LLC to Cordova.
“With temporary repairs in place, Alaska Marine Response LLC safely refloated the vessel at the site of the grounding," said Lt. Jason Smilie, prevention department head, Marine Safety Unit Valdez. “Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation gave final approval late Wednesday to tow the tug and barge into port.”
The Hook Point-Alaganik, with two people aboard, grounded 60 miles southeast of Cordova on July 24 while working on a tsunami debris clean-up project on the Alaskan coast. No injuries were reported.
The vessel’s owner contracted Alaska Marine Response LLC to remove all recoverable fuel and oil and conduct temporary repairs.
