Grounded Alaska Fishing Vessel Reaches Port After 3,500 Gallon Fuel Spill

The commercial fishing vessel that ran aground near Alaska’s Afognak Island, spilling thousands of gallons of diesel fuel into surrounding waters, was successfully towed to safety Friday September 5^th, 2025, according to state environmental officials.

The 120-foot F/V SEA ERN arrived at Kodiak Harbor at approximately 7 a.m., completing a carefully coordinated salvage operation overseen by the U.S. Coast Guard and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The vessel has since been moved to drydock at the City of Kodiak shipyard.

Environmental officials estimate between 3,000 and 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the vessel after a 12-foot gash tore through its bow, rupturing two fuel tanks. The F/V SEA ERN was carrying approximately 16,290 gallons of fuel at the time of the grounding, with 12,790 gallons remaining aboard.

“The remaining tanks and hull appear to be undamaged, and the valves are closed,” DEC officials said in a statement. The vessel was also carrying an additional 300 gallons of oils and lubricants.

The Alaska Chadux Network, a spill response organization contracted by the vessel’s owner, has been leading cleanup efforts in coordination with local agencies. Response teams, along with staff from the nearby Kitoi Bay Hatchery, have conducted both water-based and aerial drone surveys of the affected area.

Surveyors have identified limited patches of weathered fuel sheen on the west side of Izhut Bay, with particular attention focused on areas near the hatchery. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) has provided aerial support to monitor the spill’s environmental impact.

Despite the fuel spill, officials report no immediate impact on local wildlife populations. Sea otters and baleen whales have been observed exhibiting normal behavior in the bay, according to state wildlife officials.

The ADFG will continue to assess when commercial fishing operations in the area can safely resume. The cause of the grounding remains under investigation.