Unalaska Wreck - Bow Sinks, 176K Gallons Fuel Oil Already Spilled

[hatrack]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- "The bow section of a grounded freighter off Unalaska Island has sunk and the 176,473 gallons of oil inside is thought to have already spilled into the Bering Sea. Violent storms and harsh conditions had kept salvage and cleanup crews stuck in Dutch Harbor for days. When skies cleared yesterday, officials found that the front section of the Selendang Ayu had sunk to the tip of its bow.

The ship is in two pieces after drifting powerless and running aground Dec. 8. The 738-foot freighter was carrying soybeans, 424,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil and 18,000 gallons of diesel.

Salvage crews still plan to attempt unloading more than 80,000 gallons of fuel from two smaller tanks in the stern of the ship. But the three biggest tanks -- totaling 321,058 gallons of oil and stretching the length of the ship -- are believed to be ruptured and the fuel inside lost, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Sara Francis.

The bow section had earlier been judged unsafe to attempt removing the 176,473 gallons of fuel in the tank there, but response officials had hoped a salvage team could come up with a plan to recover that oil. "It appears that the tank ... which we had previously had hope of recovering all its oil from, has probably lost all its contents," said Marti Early of the state Department of Environmental Conservation."

EDIT

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/205130_spill24.html

[DUgosh]

1. "Goodbye Boise, Hello Alaska" by Cora Holmes

I am misty eyed at this terrible tragedy. Having read Ms. Holmes books lovingly describing her homelife and the raising of her boys on beautiful Unalaska Island. This is truly a sad day. ;(

[Dear Maggie]

2. Yes, but a sadder day if they bring out the cleanup chemicals

Storms help break up the oil better than anything.
That is what they said after the Exxon Valdez oil spill www.valdezlink.com/fq_na.htm

And here are about 5 other news reports on this current oil spill www.ragereport.com/phpbb/nfphpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4783

When they were looking into an oil spill recently in the Puget Sound, WA state area, My thoughts: "I am glad that their plans have been to use containment booms and oil skimmers, BRAVO! the right choice

Please pray they DO NOT add the poison of Corexit or other 'dispersants' which only put the oil farther down in the water column for the fish to run into ... to run into the OIL and the POISON of 2-butoxyethanol." etc http://www.ragereport.com/phpbb/nfphpbb/viewtopic.php?p=25116&highlight=#25116

For the fish to run into www.valdezlink.com/inipol/no.htm
2-butoxyethanol www.valdezlink.com/same.htm
www.valdezlink.com/inipol/pages/2-butoxy_msds.htm

THEN I heard they were asking Alaska for help, Oh, oh ...

Did you know that Austrailia asked those involved with the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup for help in their 1995 oil spill? Poor folks, they ended up with making and using Corexit ... & didn't know that it had 38% 2-butoxyethanol & some ethylene oxide that is very, very health hazardous?! www.valdezlink.com/eo.htm

But then the Dept of Defense bought this discarded experimental chemical, too...
and after that we had 'gulf war syndrome'

Symptoms of Gulf War Illnesses (according to the American Legion)
www.valdezlink.com/wondering.htm#symptoms

· Chronic Fatigue
· Signs and symptoms involving skin
· Headache
· Muscle pain
· Neurological signs or symptoms
· Neuropsychological signs or symptoms (including memory loss)
· Signs or symptoms involving upper or lower respiratory system
· Sleep disturbances
· Gastrointestinal signs or symptoms
· Cardiovascular signs or symptoms
· Menstrual disorders

Many are harmed by 2-butoxyethanol
How should we cleanup oil spills?
http://www.ragereport.com/phpbb/nfphpbb/viewtopic.php?p=23322&highlight=#23322

New Book on the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup issues www.valdezlink.com/rr_book.htm

www.valdezlink.com/req_reply.htm 10-15-03 thoughts - Public input