Jacob Resneck, KMXT – Kodiak
A beached fishing vessel has discharged hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel into Malina Bay off Afognak Island northwest of Kodiak. Efforts are underway to remove the remaining fuel from the 86-foot Midnite Sun that went aground early Friday. The five-man crew was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation reports the Midnite Sun was carrying 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of lube and hydraulic oil.
John Brown is with the state DEC. He says as much as 1,500 gallons of diesel has spilled into the bay.
Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer David Mosley says the rest of the fuel will be drained as soon as possible before the vessel is salvaged.
The cause of the grounding is still under investigation. The vessel grounded in an area designated as habitat for endangered marine mammals including the Northern Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion.
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