Alaska's DEC and Coast Guard personnel have been monitoring the response efforts to remove fuel from the 65-foot fishing tender "Fate Hunter," that is grounded near Shoup Bay four miles west of Valdez.

Global Diving and Salvage as well as Alaska Chadux have mobilized defueling equipment at the scene and have so far been successful with off-loading undreds of gallons of the approximately 1,900 gallons of fuel aboard at the time of the grounding. About 75 tons of salmon aboard is being off-loaded as well.

After a site survey on Tuesday, it was determined that the off-loading the vessel where it sits was the best option available to lessen environmental impact.

A salvage plan is also being developed by Global Diving and Salvage for review by the Coast Guard and hopefully approval.

The vessel has been grounded at its location since Sunday the 11th of August. A Good Samaritan vessel off-loaded the four-man crew from the vessel and transported them to Valdez.

Shortly after the grounding, the owner of the “Fate Hunter” contacted R&R Diving to place oil containment boom around the vessel and to secure fuel vents. They also recovered three 55-gallon fuel drums that had separated from the vessel and were floating in the vicinity. Global Diving and Salvage as well as Alaska Chadux were also contacted at that time for additional pollution mitigation, diving, lightering, and salvage operations.

The cause of the grounding of the Astoria, Oregon-based “Fate Hunter” remains under investigation.