US Coast Guard, ADEC respond to Alaskan oil spill

The US Coast Guard and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) have established a unified command in response to an oil spill about 80 kilometres north of Kodiak in the Shuyak Strait.

The spill occurred on Monday morning after an abandoned building collapsed during extreme weather including sustained winds of 35 knots and gusts up to 65 knots.

An oil fuel bladder inside the building fell in the water, releasing up to 11,350 litres of bunker C fuel oil.

The coast guard contracted oil-spill removal specialists Alaska Chadux to assist with the clean-up efforts.

“The unified command’s priorities are to limit environmental impacts through the containment and clean-up of the spill as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Capt. Sean MacKenzie.

“We are working diligently to minimise the impact to wildlife and the environment.”

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew conducted an overflight of the area.