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Car Carrier Cougar Ace sinking outside Alaska

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albert van emden:
Wasn't that offshore the UK coast instead of US? There is still a story abt some ''top secret materials'' on board then (and still is).Position of wreck is known.....

Michael Martin:
I just got this story thru a daily news email I get from MarineLink....http://www.marinelink.com/Story/ShowStory.aspx?StoryID=203930

So Mazda won't lose any money on this deal, except from maybe a few disgruntled people who might not be willing to delay their new car purchase for another shipload to arrive from Japan.

Michael Martin:
Latest Cougar Ace news and some photos at Alaska Department of Enviromental Conservation. This is a very good information source. They even have the Tank Capacity Plan and General Arrangements in PDF.

KPMid:
Current situation as of 3 August, 2006

The Crowley tug Sea Victory arrived from Seattle, WA (via Dutch Harbor for fuel) and has taken over the tow of the Cougar Ace from the Emma Foss and is heading towards Samalga Pass (west of Umnak Island) at 2.5 knots.  After going through the pass, the tow's planned curved course towards Dutch Harbor will keep it out of at least a 50 mile radius from Bogoslof; ie - close to 75 miles from the nearest point of land.  Coincidently, this is the very same area that the ill-fated bulker Selendang Ayu lost power and ultimately grounded and broke in two in December of 2004.  The Sea Victory is ultimately heading for a point about 50 miles due north of Dutch Harbor and its ETA is  about 0400 ADT (1300 GMT) on 08 August.

The Cougar Ace does not appear to be sinking, but weather conditions have deteriorated to the point that it has not been safe enough to land any teams onboard (both by air and sea).  The weekend is supposed to stay rough due to a bunck of small low pressure systems that will pass through the area.  A ridge of high pressure will move in early next week and should help calm things down.  

The Emma Foss is still tanding by with the Sea Victory and can assist in the tow if necessary.  The Crowley tug Gladiator is underway from Anacortes, WA and will arrive the evening of August 6th.  The Gladiator will relieve the Emma Foss.  Because of the odd characteristics of the tow and the swell conditions, the crew of the Sea Victory is having to manually steer, occasionally requiring up to 15-20 degrees of rudder to keep on course.  They are taking 6x6 shifts in the wheelhouse.  

If the weather holds enough, salvage crews will keep trying to right the vessel.  Cargo nets are being brought in and will be placed within the Cougar Ace to ease movement inside the listed vessel.  Two portable pumps have already been placed on the Cougar Ace with the intention of filling the No. 5 ballast tank.  A third pump was unable to be put onboard today (due to weather conditions).  If the weather does not hold, crews may have to wait until the tow has transited Samalga Pass and is in the lee of Umnak Island.  

As for the cargo, two of the fourteen decks were inspected and the cargo was found to be in place.  Unfortunately, during that inspection on July 30, a naval architect from Seattle slipped and fell about 80 feet and was knocked unconscious.  Subsequent efforts to revive him on a USCG cuter failed and he was pronounced dead.

The vessels Makushin Bay and Redeemer are also on site, assisting.  The USCGC Morgenthau is on site and the USCGC Sycamore is on its way with a naval architect and salvage team members onboard.

More info, including photos, can be found in the link below:

Unified Command -- M/V Cougar Ace

robert etchell:
i looked at the web site from the us coast guard and the photos of the cougar ace are good photos but she is in very bad postion since she is listing. there is report in vancouver sun newspaper here in vancouver that her port she was bound for is new westmisnter on the fraser river is posible port that she wil be towed to. if does happen that she is towed to her her port of new westminster wich is suberb of vancouver would be great to get photo of her towed up the fraser river . the last time we had car carrier towed into port was in aug 2004 wich the car carrier ENSHIN was towed from out in the pacfic from the japan regesrty tug kiwo maru to her port on the faser river then towed her back to japan. so wil have to see if this happens agian the cougar ace is towed to here and back to japan.    

robert

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