VALDEZ, Alaska — Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez is monitoring the 49-foot fishing tender Raidawn after it was intentionally grounded in Main Bay early Monday morning.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage received a distress call at 12:23 a.m. from the fishing vessel Raidawn Crew, reporting they were taking on water after striking a rock in Main Bay. With the help of the 49-foot stern trawler Bipolar crew the Raidawn was towed to shore and intentionally grounded the vessel to prevent its total loss and mitigate the risk of pollution.

The two crewmembers aboard the Raidawn were safely transferred off the vessel to the Bipolar with no injuries reported.

An airsurvey by a Cordova based Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crewobserved a 20 by 15-foot sheen in the area of the grounded vessel. Raidawn was carrying approximately 3,200 gallons of diesel fuel and 500 gallons of gasoline at the time of the incident.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez personel are working closely with nearby hatchery personnel to monitor both actual and potential pollution risk to the Main Bay Salmon Hatchery.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Prince William Sound has issued a Captain of the Port Order to the Raidawn owner, requiring to the removal of all fuel from the vessel and make temporary repairs to the satisfaction of Coast Guard inspectors prior to towing the vessel to Cordova. Alaska Marine Response has been hired by the vessel’s owner to deploy boom and assist with fuel removal operations.

Coast Guard MSU Valdez personnel are currently on scene monitoring response efforts.

The Coast Guard investigation into the incident is ongoing. For more information contact Lt. j.g. Allie Ferko at Allison.e.ferko@uscg.mil or (907) 835-7209 or cell (972) 533-8185 for further information.

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