&

Nuka Research & Planning Group, LLC.

P.O. Box 175

Seldovia, Alaska 99663

tel 907.234.7821

fax 509.278.4406

contact@nukaresearch.com

W. David Eley

Cape International, Inc

3300 Foster Avenue

Juneau, Alaska 99801

tel 907.586.2685

fax 907.586.2692

capedec@alaska.com
December 2006 

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Executive Summary 

The Seabulk Pride breakaway and grounding has focused attention on the

oil spill risks posed by vessels transiting Cook Inlet, particularly vessels of

‘high consequence’ who carry petroleum or dangerous cargoes, or who carry

large amounts of fuel oil.

Cook Inlet is a wide, long inlet with moderate to low levels of vessel traffic 

when compared to other large North America ports but which is vexed by:

•	 Sudden, severe weather,

•	 Strong tides, and

•	 Large ice pans aggressively moved by strong tides in the winter.

These environmental conditions have been contributing causes of significant 

or potentially catastrophic vessel casualties.

From January 1, 2005 through July 15, 2006, 704 deep draft vessels called

at Cook Inlet ports. Twelve vessels managed among six operators accounted

for 80% of this ship traffic. Nearly half (47%) of the port calls were made by 

container and Ro-Ro vessels operated by Horizon Lines and Totem Ocean

Transport Express (TOTE), respectively, to the Port of Anchorage. Ferries 

operated by Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) represented 17% of 

the traffic. Twenty-nine (29%) of the vessels were gas or liquid petroleum 

tankships calling primarily at Nikiski. Thus, monitoring and cooperative

partnerships with only a few operators and ships will promote safe shipping

for the vast majority of high consequence carriers. 

Tank ships calling at the Nikiski terminals and refineries transfer roughly 

22 million barrels of crude and refined (non-persistent) oil each year and 

transfer about 4.8 million barrels of Cook Inlet crude oil from the Drift River

Terminal to Nikiski each year.

About six million barrels of non-persistent fuel oil is moved into and through

the Cook Inlet for domestic consumption each year on approximately 200

tug/barge voyages.

Gas carriers calling at Nikiski load over three million cubic meters of

liquefied natural gas (LNG) and about 272,000 cubic meters of ammonia 

each year.

About 500 to 900 commercial fishing vessels operate in the five different 

fisheries predominantly from mid-May through mid-September throughout 

Cook Inlet. Fishing vessels typically have a fuel capacity of about 300 to

1,000 gallons and almost all carry non-persistent fuel.
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

There are 3 tugs resident in Cook Inlet that provide ship docking and escort.

Approximately 150 tug voyages each year transit the area with fuel barges in

tow. Other tugs manage the freight and gravel barge loads in the vicinity of

the Port of Anchorage each year.

Two hundred and twenty five (225) casualties effecting vessel seaworthiness 

were reported in Cook Inlet from May 1, 1990 through August 1, 2006. Fiftynine (59) casualty records indicated vessel damage in excess of $20,000. In 

eleven of the incidences, vessel damage exceeded $250,000. Over the last 

twenty years, the most significant casualties have been the M/V Glacier Bay 

spill in 1987, the capsizing of the urea barge Oregon in 1997, the Container 

Ship Greatland cargo hold fire in 2003, and the breakaway of the tankship 

Seabulk Pride in 2006.

Between January 1, 1992 and August 30, 2006 there were 295 minor oil 

spills from vessels operating in Cook Inlet. During that same period, there

were 333 spills reported from the 15 Cook Inlet oil production platforms.

Given that major or significant spills are rare, analysis of spill records 

yields little information that would assist in major incident prevention and

response planning. 
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Table of Contents

Executive Summary.........................................................................................................3

Purpose of this Report .....................................................................................................7

Cook Inlet Profile .............................................................................................................7

Vessels Trading in Cook Inlet.........................................................................................8

Overview of Coastwise and International Traffic ......................................................8

Common Carriers.........................................................................................................9

Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) and Horizon Line Vessels

 calling at Anchorage ...........................................................................................12

Alaska Marine Highway System...............................................................................15

Overview of Cook Inlet Facilities and Terminals.........................................................15

Deep Draft Traffic at Homer .....................................................................................15

Nikiski Industrial Terminals ....................................................................................16

Agrium, Nikiski......................................................................................................16

Conoco Phillips Gas Plant, Nikiski .......................................................................16

Kenai Pipeline, Nikiski..........................................................................................16

Port of Anchorage.......................................................................................................17

Domestic Fuel Barge Traffic......................................................................................18

Cook Inlet Commercial Fishery Vessel Traffic.........................................................19

General Conclusions Regarding Commercial Fishing Vessel Traffic..................22

Tugs ............................................................................................................................22

Casualties in Cook Inlet ................................................................................................23

Casualties of Interest.................................................................................................25

Pollution from Vessels ...................................................................................................28

Summary and Recommendations .................................................................................29

Appendices......................................................................................................................31

Appendix A: Ship Arrivals at Cook Inlet 01/01/2005 to 07/15/2006.......................29

Appendices B1 and B2: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Tables............33

Appendix C: Fishery Timeline for Cook Inlet..........................................................37

Appendix D: Captain of the Port, Western Alaska Navigation Advisory ..............39

Appendix E: Vessel Casualties in Cook Inlet Recorded by the 

 US Coast Guard (May 1, 1990 through August 1, 2006) .....................................43
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

This page is intentionally blank.
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

COOK INLET

VESSEL TRAFFIC STUDY

Report to Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council

Purpose of this Report

Although ships are required to provide advance notice of arrival, we are not

aware of succinct summaries of vessel traffic in Cook Inlet that would assist 

in developing risk assessments for contingency planning. The Cook Inlet

Subarea Contingency Plan characterizes the water body, identifies sensitive 

areas, and develops response scenarios. It does not provide vessel traffic 

data. 

The purpose of this project is to prepare a written narrative report and

illustrative maps inventorying vessel traffic movements in Cook Inlet during 

2005. The written report may be used as a reference document to support

discussions regarding the environmental risks associated with vessel

traffic in the area, as well as any discussions regarding mishap prevention 

initiatives.

Cook Inlet Profile

The Cook Inlet Subarea Contingency Plan1 describes the water body as a

large, elongated body of water oriented in a SW-NE direction in southcentral

Alaska. It is approximately 150 miles long, and its width ranges from

about 10 miles between the East and West Forelands, toward the north,

to approximately 80 miles between the Kenai Peninsula and the mouth of

the McNeil River in Kamishak Bay, toward the south. The inlet experiences 

the second largest tidal fluctuations in the world, frequently exceeding 

twenty feet, with tidal current velocities as fast as 8 knots. Tidal flats are a 

dominant coastal feature along Cook Inlet, although marshes, rocky shores,

sand and gravel beaches, and wave-cut platforms are also quite common.

According to a publication produced by the US Army Corps of Engineers2,

“The ice cover in Cook Inlet is seasonal. By December about half the Inlet 

area north of the Forelands is normally covered with new ice and pancake

ice (up to 10 cm thick) and thin, first-year ice (30-70 cm thick). The area 

south of the Forelands is normally still ice free in December....then the ice

extent and thickness both increase through January and February, reaching

maximums by mid-February and early March”. The publication further

1 Cook Inlet Subarea Contingency Plan for Oil and Hazardous Substance Spills and Releases, Change 1

(June 16, 2003). Portions available at: www.akrrt.org.

Mulherin, N.D. Marine Ice Atlas for Cook Inlet (ATLAS), ACOE. 2001. Section 3.2, p. 13.
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

states, “During colder winters the cold may extend into the lower Inlet as far

south as Anchor Point on the east side and Cape Douglas on the west side. 

The thickness of the ice varies between 0.5 and 2.0 meters.”

As we conducted the research for this traffic study, reviewed the casualty 

records, and talked to marine pilots, agents and operators, a succinct

description of the water body became quite clear:

“Cook Inlet is a wide, long inlet with moderate to low levels of vessel

traffic when compared to other large North America ports, but is a water 

body vexed by:

•	 Sudden, severe weather,

•	 Strong tides, and

•	 Large ice pans aggressively moved by strong tides in the winter.”

Vessels Trading in Cook Inlet

Cook Inlet supports a wide variety of vessel traffic ranging from the smallest 

fishing vessel to crude oil tankers. Refined products and crude oil are 

routinely shipped in and out of the Inlet. In addition, Liquefied Natural Gas 

(LNG) and ammonia carriers call at the Nikiski Industrial complex. Many 

crude oil development and production platforms operate in the area. Crude

oil and natural gas pipeline crossings exist in Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm

in several locations.

There is only moderate fuel barge traffic through out the inlet since much of 

the refined oil needed for regional consumption is provided to Anchorage via 

a pipeline from the Tesoro refinery in Nikiski.

The Port of Anchorage (POA) is a ‘classic’ port in that it imports and exports 

a variety of goods and raw material in bulk and containers.

Overview of Coastwise and International Traffic

Based on US Coast Guard advance notice of arrival records and other

local sources of information4, 704 large vessels5, other than fuel barges on

domestic trade, called at Cook Inlet ports from January 1, 2005 through

July 15, 2006. As can be seen in Figure 1, almost two-thirds (65%) of the 

calls were made by container vessels operated by Horizon Lines, roll-on, 

 Requiredby 33 CFR160,SubpartCforallvesselscarryingcertaindangerouscargoesandallvesselsat 300grosstonsor

greater traveling not carrying certain dangerous cargoes.

4 HorizonLines,TOTE,andAlaskaMarineHighwaySystemsailingschedules:www.horizonlines.com,www.totemocean.com,

and http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

5 300 gross tons or more in size. This is the Coast Guard’s break point for advance notice of arrival. 

Gross Tonnage refers to the volume of all ship’s enclosed spaces measured to the outside of the hull framing. 

It was a measurement of the enclosed spaces within a ship expressed in “tons” – a unit which was actually

equivalent to 100 cubic feet. The calculation of gross tonnage is complex but important given that fees,

registration requirements and, as seen here, regulatory standards are based on gross tonnage.
December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

roll-off (RoRo) cargo ships operated by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE), 

or ferries operated by Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Twenty-nine 

percent (29%) of the vessel traffic totals were gas or liquid tankships calling 

primarily at Nikiski. Bulk carriers and general cargo ships represented 6%. 

Tugs, fishing and passenger vessels combined represented 2% of the Cook 

Inlet vessel traffic. 

Averaging from these records, 486 ships of 300 gross tons or more call

at Cook Inlet each year, or 8-10 ships per week. This estimate will likely

decrease slightly in 2007 due to temporary closure of the Agrium facility in

Nikiski. Large vessel traffic in Cook Inlet is moderate or low when compared 

to other North American west coast ports and waterways. For example, in

2005, the Port of Los Angeles had 2700 ship arrivals. In 2005, about 3100

deep draft vessels passed through Unimak Pass in the Aleutian Chain. 

However, as noted earlier, many of the North American waterways do not

have the high percentages of oil and gas carriers. None have the harsh

winter maritime conditions of Cook Inlet.

Common Carriers 

Twelve vessels managed among six operators account for 80% of the deepdraft vessel6 traffic in Cook Inlet. See Table 1. Therefore a more detailed 

description of these operators and their ships is instructive. These vessels

and their operations are described in subsequent sections of this report.

Coast Guard records indicate that these twelve ships or their owner/

operators accounted for only 9 of the 226 marine casualties and 295 spills 

reported between January 1, 1991 and July 15, 2006.

6 ‘Deep-draft vessel’ is a somewhat arbitrary but descriptive term used to distinguish ocean-going large

ships from fuel barges and other vessels that are more than 300 gross tons but not considered ships. A deepdraft vessel generally has a draft greater than 4 meters.

Figure 1: Vessels 300 Gross Tons and Over

Calling at Cook Inlet

January 1, 2005 through July 15, 2006

4% 13%

2%

22%

2% 16%

24%

17%

Bulk Carriers

Liq Gas

Gen Cargo

TOTE RoRo

Tanker

Misc: Tugs, passenger

Horizon Container Vessels

AMHS
10 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Table 1: Vessels Frequently Trading in Cook Inlet (2005-2006). (From Coast Guard and 

ADEC Records)

Name

Estimated 

Annual 

Calls 

Calling at Type Year 

Built

Length 

(Meters)

Gross 

Tons

Bunker 

or Cargo 

Capacity 

(Barrels)

Owner

or 

Operator

IMO 

Number

Tustumena 80 Homer/

Seldovia Ferry 1973 81.8 2174 1598

Alaska 

Marine 

Highway

6421086

North Star 52 Anchorage Ro-Ro 2003 258 35825 12589 TOTE 9232280

Midnight 

Sun 52 Anchorage Ro-Ro 2003 258 35825 12589 TOTE 9232278

Horizon 

Tacoma 35 Anchorage Container 1987 216.4 20965 21870 Horizon Lines 8419154

Horizon 

Anchorage 34 Anchorage Container 1987 216.4 20965 21870 Horizon Lines 8419142

Horizon 

Kodiak 31 Anchorage Container 1987 216.4 20965 21870 Horizon Lines 8419166

Seabulk 

Arctic 23

Nikiski & 

Drift River/ 

Tesoro

Tankship 1998 183 30415 342,042 Lightship 

Tankers 9131371

Polar Eagle 18

Nikiski/ 

Conoco 

Phillips

Gas Ship 1993 239 66174 22379

Eagle Sun 

Company 

Limited

9001772

Arctic Sun 18

Nikiski/ 

Conoco 

Phillips

Gas Ship 1993 239 66174 22340

Eagle Sun 

Company 

Limited

9001784

Captain H. 

Downing 16

Nikiski & 

Drift River/ 

Tesoro

Tankship 207 24458 275,676 

AHL 

Shipping 

Co

1046031

Seabulk 

Pride 15

Nikiski & 

Drift River/ 

Tesoro

Tankship 1998 183 30415 342,000 Lightship 

Tankers 9118630

Horizon 

Fairbanks 13 Anchorage Container 1973 204 22033 26,690 Horizon Lines 7218462

Combined 

Total 387 (80% of total)

All vessels 486
December 2006 11

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Table 2: Annual Vessel Calls at Cook Inlet Facilities and Marine Terminals.

Facility

Est.

Annual 

Calls

Vessel 

type Purpose

Est. Average 

Cargo 

Transferred 

per Port Call

Units

Annual 

Cargo 

Transfer

Comments 

and Reference 

Source

Homer/

Seldovia

83 AMHS 

Ferry

Transport 

passengers and 

vehicles

100 passengers, 

20 vehicles

n/a n/a AMHS published 

schedule.

Homer, 

vessel 

anchorage

25 Primarily 

tank ships, 

(liquid and 

gas)

Await pilot and 

favorable mooring 

conditions at 

Nikiski and/or 

await Coast 

Guard inspection

n/a n/a n/a Coast Guard 

ANOA

Port 

Graham

5 Fuel barge Offload fuel 

for domestic 

consumption

476 barrels oil 2,380 Port Graham Corp

Seldovia 6 Fuel barge Offload fuel 

for domestic 

consumption

2381 barrels oil 14,286 Plant operator, 

Seldovia Fuels

Homer 24 Fuel barge Offload fuel 

for domestic 

consumption

9524 barrels oil 228,576 Plant operator, 

PetroMarine

Tyonek 0 Fuel barge Offload fuel 

for domestic 

consumption 

(none in 2005)

0 barrels oil 0 Tyonek Village

Nikiski, 

Tesoro, KPL

90 

tankships, 

40 tank 

barges

Petroleum 

tank ship 

and tank 

barge

See footnote 1. 250,000 per tank 

ship. 

84,000 per 

barge.

See footnote 1.

barrels oil 22,500,000 

tank ships

3,360,000 

tank barges

Coast Guard 

ANOA, Tesoro

Drift River 

Terminal

24 or less Tank ship Load crude for 

off load at Tesoro 

Nikiski

200,000 

but varies 

considerably

barrels oil 4,800,000 or 

less

Cook Inlet Pipeline 

Nikiski, 

Conoco 

Phillips

36 LNG gas 

ship

Load liquefied 

natural gas (LNG)

88,150 cubic 

meters

3,173,400 Coast Guard 

ANOA

Nikiski, 

Agrium

20 Bulk urea 

freight ship

Load urea 25,000 metric 

tonnes

500,000 Agrium. Note: Port 

calls in 2006 were 

only 60% of 2005 

levels. Port calls will 

be reduced further 

in 2007.

Nikiski, 

Agrium

8 Gas 

ammonia 

carrier 

tank ship

Load ammonia 23,500 metric 

tonnes

188,000 Agrium. Note: Port 

calls in 2006 were 

only 60% of 2005 

levels. Port calls will 

be reduced further 

in 2007.

Port of 

Anchorage, 

POL#1 & #2

4 Tank ship Off-load refined 

oil for supply to 

local markets and 

military

300,000 barrels oil 1,200,000 Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan

Port of 

Anchorage, 

POL#1 & #2 

60 Tank 

barge

Load fuel off 

railcars from 

North Star refinery 

(Williams Alaska 

Petroleum 

(formerly MAPCO)

28,000 barrels oil 1,680,000 Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan

Table footnote 1: Tank vessels calling at KPL load and off load a range of cargo: off-loading crude oil from Valdez and Drift 

River, off-loading light oil from other West Coast refineries, and loading refined product from the Tesoro refinery for export. 

Total barrels transferred is only a rough estimate based on number of dockings.
12 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Facility

Est.

Annual 

Calls

Vessel 

type Purpose

Est. Average 

Cargo 

Transferred 

per Port Call

Units

Annual 

Cargo 

Transfer

Comments 

and Reference 

Source

Port of 

Anchorage, 

Terminal 2

113 Container 

Ship 

(Horizon 

Lines)

Off-load, load 

freight containers

Twentyfoot 

Equivalent 

Unit (TEU)

Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan, 

Horizon Lines 

website

Port of 

Anchorage, 

Terminal 3

104 Ro-Ro 

Freight 

Ship (TOTE)

Off-load, load 

freight containers 

and vehicles

Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan, TOTE 

Lines website

Port of 

Anchorage, 

Terminal 3

2 Passenger Passenger 

operations

n/a Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan

Port of 

Anchorage, 

POL #1

4 ships/4 

barges

bulk 

carriers

Unload dry 

cement

15,357 tons 122,855 Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan, Alaska 

Maritime Agencies

Anchorage, 

North Star 

Dock

24 Primarily 

freight 

barges

Transfer 

containers, break 

bulk, oil field 

equipment.

n/a Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan

Anchorage, 

Northland 

Marine

20 Container 

barges

Off-load 

containers

270 Twentyfoot 

Equivalent 

Unit (TEU)

5,400 Port of Anchorage 

Master Plan

Anchorage, 

Minch Dock

480

(varies 

considerably)

Gravel 

barges, 

one salt 

barge

Import gravel Gravel barged in 

from a site near 

Knik Arm. Port of 

Anchorage Master 

Plan

Port 

McKenzie

1 Ship: Bulk 

carrier

Load wood chips Alaska Maritime 

Agencies

Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) and Horizon Line Vessels calling at 

Anchorage

Given that 56% of the deep-draft vessel traffic calling at Cook Inlet is 

operated by two shipping lines, a more detailed description of these

operators is instructive. According to their website7 TOTE’s new Orca Class

roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels entered Alaska service in 2003 replacing three 

older, ‘Ponce-class’ vessels. Each of the new vessels, and M. V. North Star, 

call at the Port of Anchorage once a week. They have the capacity to carry

over 600 containers (40-foot equivalent) and 220 vehicles. These RoRo 

ships differ from container cargo vessels in that freight is not lifted by crane

but driven by tractor-trailer on to the ship using a flat bed or van. Vehicles 

for shipment are also driven on board. Each vessel makes continuous

round trips between the ports of Tacoma, Washington and Anchorage,

covering the 1450 nautical miles between ports in about 66 hours, one way. 

In Anchorage, the vessels take ten hours to off-load and load.

One vessel casualty (loss of electric power) in Cook Inlet was reported to the 

Coast Guard by the M/V Midnight Sun in May 2003. No pollution incidents 

have been reported by either vessel.

7 www.totemocean.com
December 2006 13

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Principal

Characteristics

TOTE

M/V’s Midnight Sun and North Star

Overall Length 839’ - 0”

Beam 118’ - 0”

Speed at 90% MCR 24 knots

Trailer Capacity 600 FEU (Forty-foot equivalent unit container)

Auto Capacity 220

Internal Ramps 13

Propulsion Plant diesel-electric

Bunker Capacity 12589 bbls, 528,738 gallons, 1900 tonnes* IFO 

180 (persistent fuel oil)

Horizon Line LLC operates four container vessels between Alaska and

Tacoma, Washington that service not only Port of Anchorage but Kodiak and

Dutch Harbor. See Figure 6. The transit time from Tacoma to Anchorage

takes about 80 hours. The vessels are moored at Port of Anchorage for

about 22 hours off-loading and loading freight. Three spills in Cook Inlet

from Horizon Line vessels have been reported to the Coast Guard since

1992. Two groundings, one allision, and one loss of maneuverability 

casualty have been reported during the same period. The spills and

casualties were classified as ‘not serious8’.

8 The Coast Guard groups casualty and vessel spill reports into three categories: : Major marine casualty

(loss of six or more lives, loss of vessel larger than 100 gross tons, or serious threat to the environment), 

significant marine casualty ( multiple loss of life, loss of Coast Guard inspected vessel, accident of high 

media interest, or creating a hazard to life, property or marine environment), serious marine casualty (an 

International Maritime Organization definition where there is a loss or a large vessel or loss of life on a large 

vessel).

TOTE’s MV North Star (left) and MV Midnight Sun (right)

Photos by Neil Rabinowitz - www.neilrabinowitz.com

* Assuming 6.60 barrels equals one metric ton of IFO 180.
14 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Principal

Characteristics

Horizon Line

M/V’s Horizon Tacoma, Horizon Kodiak, Horizon Anchorage

Built 1987

Overall Length 709.79 feet

Beam 70.06 feet

Gross Tons 20,965

Service Speed 20 knots

Trailer Capacity 1668 TEU (Twenty-foot equivalent unit container)

Propulsion Plant diesel-electric

Bunker Capacity 21,870 bbls, 918,540 gallons, 3315 tonnes* IFO 180 (persistent fuel oil)

Principal

Characteristics

Horizon Line

M/V Fairbanks

Built 1973

Overall Length 669.12 feet

Beam 89.87 feet

Gross Tons 22,033

Service Speed 22 knots

Trailer Capacity 1412 TEU (Twenty-foot equivalent unit container)

Propulsion Plant diesel-electric

Bunker Capacity 26,690 bbls, 1,121,000 gallons, 4044 tonnes,* IFO 180 (persistent fuel oil)

Figure 3: Horizon Line service. Source: http://www.horizon-lines.com/

* Assuming 6.60 barrels equals one metric ton of IFO 180.

* Assuming 6.60 barrels equals one metric ton of IFO 180.
December 2006 15

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Alaska Marine Highway System

Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) operates the ro-ro ferry Tustumena 

year round between Homer, Seldovia and Kodiak. The M/V Kennicott 

makes a few ‘fill-in’ runs for the Tustumena 

throughout the year. Published schedules

for 2007 show that the Tustumena or

Kennicott will make on average of 14 to 19 

calls per month at Seldovia and Homer from

March through December and 5 to 7 calls

each month in January and February.

Since 1992, the Coast Guard has recorded 

two casualties on the Tustumena; an allision with damage estimated at

$20,000 and a loss of maneuverability without damage or accident. There 

have been no reports of pollution from the Tustumena. The Kennicott has

not reported either a casualty or oil spill while operating in Cook Inlet.

Principal

Characteristics

AMHS

M/V Tustumena

AMHS

M/V Kennicott

Built 1973 1998

Overall Length 268.30 feet 347.02 feet

Beam 59.70 feet 85.61 feet

Gross Tons 2174 9978

Average Load 60-220 passengers, 37 crew 

members, 20-46 vehicles

60-499 passengers, 56 crew members, 

20-200 vehicles

Propulsion Plant diesel-electric diesel-electric

Bunker Capacity 1,598 bbls, 67,116 gallons diesel 5,030 bbls, 211,260 gallons diesel

Overview of Cook Inlet Facilities and Terminals

Cook Inlet has a few marine facilities and terminals. Vessel calls at those 

facilities are summarized in Table 2. This table provides the most succinct

portrait of all vessel activity other than fishing in Cook Inlet. Each port 

facility or terminal will be described in subsequent sections of this report.

Deep Draft Traffic at Homer

All vessels calling at Nikiski industrial facilities dock during a flood tide. 

Therefore, often vessels will anchor in Kachemak Bay in a position roughly 

1 nautical mile north-northeast of Coal Point on Homer Spit and Coal Point

(590 36.6’ N, 1510 24.0’ W) to await necessary mooring conditions at Nikiski

which is 80 nautical miles to the north. During the ice season and on the

occasion of a vessel’s first transit, the vessel will anchor for US Coast Guard 

inspection before continuing north.

 As agreed between the ship operators and the Alaska marine pilots.
16 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Nikiski Industrial Terminals

The industrial terminals at Nikiski (600 40.5’ N, 1510 23.7’ W) are located

roughly midway between Homer and Anchorage, on the east side of Cook

Inlet, and 2.3 nautical miles south of the geographically prominent East

Forelands. Three moorages side-by-side extend for one nautical mile northnorthwest with the Agrium wharf to the south, the Kenai Pipeline pier at the

north and the Conoco Phillips pier between them.

Agrium, Nikiski

Gas ships call at Agrium Agricultural Products Plant to load anhydrous

ammonia. Bulk carriers call to load urea. These vessels are spot 

chartered. Because of difficulties in obtaining a competitive cost source 

of natural gas, the Agrium facility output has been uneven in past years. 

In 2005, the facility loaded ammonia to 14 gas ships and urea to 34

bulk carrier ships. In 2006 through November, only 28 vessels called at

the facility (8 ammonia gas ships and 20 urea bulk carrier ships). The 

facility intends to shutdown between mid-November 2006 and March

2007. Vessel traffic for 2007 is expected to be at about the 2006 levels.

Conoco Phillips Gas Plant, Nikiski

Two Liberian flagged LNG carriers, MV’s Polar Eagle and Arctic Sun, 

currently make regular runs between Nikiski and Japan; 9 days transit 

one-way, eighteen (18) annual round trips each. Voyage schedules 

are consistent and the ships seldom need to wait in Kachemak Bay for 

favorable tides at Nikiski.

Principal Characteristics M/V’s Polar Eagle and Arctic Sun

Type Gas carrier tank ships

Overall Length 783.92 feet

Gross Tons 66174

Tank Capacity 88200 cubic meters liquefied gas

Bunker Capacity 22380 bbls, 940,000 gallons, 3390 tonnes*

Kenai Pipeline, Nikiski

Three US flag tank ships, MV’s Seabulk Pride, Seabulk Arctic, and 

Captain H. Downing, service Tesoro’s Kenai Pipeline terminal in

Nikiski and transfer crude oil from the Drift River terminal to Nikiski.10 

Typically, a vessel from this group calling at Nikiski will anchorage in

Kachemak Bay if necessary for favorable tides at Nikiski, then travel to 

Kenai Pipeline terminal to discharge light oil stock. After discharge, the

10 Recently, since the data was collected for this study, the M/V Seabulk Mariner has been added to the 

Seabulk fleet calling at the Kenai Pipeline and Drift River terminals. However, the average number of overall 

port calls has remained the same.

* Assuming 6.60 barrels equals one metric ton of IFO 180.
December 2006 17

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

vessels may make one or more round trips between the facility and the

Drift River terminal11 23 nautical miles west-southwest of Nikiski on the

west shore of Cook Inlet. In the winter, the cross-inlet route will take

the tankships south of Kalgin Island. In the summer months, transit

between Drift River and Nikiski is north of Kalgin Island. See Figure 5.

Occasionally, these vessels will make runs to Valdez and back. The Drift 

River terminal supplies crude oil collected from the various Cook Inlet oil

production platforms. See Figure 5 and Table 3 for the location of the

various production platforms. The tank ships will moor at Drift River

terminal for 12-18 hours while loading crude oil, then transport the oil

back to the Kenai Pipeline terminal where the oil is offloaded and refined. 

These vessels will moor at Kenai Pipeline terminal for 12 hours to several

days, depending on whether tanks need cleaning. Other foreign flag 

tank ships load refined product and occasionally crude oil at the Nikiski 

Tesoro terminal (Kenai Pipeline) on spot charter. Based on trends seen 

in the study period (January 1, 2005 through July 15, 2006), 18 to 20 

foreign tank ships per year call at KPL Nikiski on spot charter. 

Port of Anchorage

The Port of Anchorage (POA) maintains 

five docks that accommodate barges and 

ships of all types. According to the POA

master plan12, the port managed in 2004

the loading or off-loading of:

• 8,779,913 barrels of refined 

petroleum,

•	 148,284 vehicles,

•	 217,532 containers, and

•	 122,855 tons of dry cement.

As seen in Table 1 and in the section

on common carriers, TOTE and Horizon

Lines are the primary users of POA. 

Fuel barges loaded for domestic supply

to lower Cook Inlet and western Alaska

are common in the non-ice months

(about 60 barge loadings, annually). 

The port receives on average 4 tank ship

calls to off-load refined product for local 

consumption, including military facilities. Dry cement is loaded on to a bulk

carrier (usually the M/V Captain Correlli, Figure 4) four times a year, on 

average. Passenger vessels are infrequent. There are no current plans for

cruise ships to call at Anchorage.

11	 The Drift River terminal is sometimes referred to as the Christy Lee platform.

12 Port of Anchorage Master Plan (rev 2005) http://www.muni.org/port/expansion.cfm

Figure 4: Dry cement loaded on the 

Hong Kong registered bulk carrier 

M/V Captain Correlli in 2006. 

(US Coast Guard photo)
18 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Domestic Fuel Barge Traffic

Compared to other water bodies of similar size and area, fuel barge traffic 

throughout Cook Inlet is light to moderate. The Tesoro refinery at Nikiski 

provides much of the fuel for Anchorage, including the international airport,

by pipeline. About 6 million barrels of non-persistent fuel oil is moved

into and through the Cook Inlet for domestic consumption each year on

approximately 200 tug/barge voyages. Nearly half of the fuel transported

and 40 or more of the tug/barge voyages originate from the KPL Tesoro

refinery in Nikiski. A summary of activity can be seen in Table 2. Typically, 

the type barge employed is double hulled with a capacity ranging from

30,000 to 148,000 barrels. A barge will be moved by a single tug of 1500-

2500 horsepower operated by Seacoast Towing or Crowley Marine to supply

Port Graham, Seldovia, Homer, and western Alaska. 

Figure 5. Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Platforms and Related Facilities.
December 2006 19

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Table 3. Platform installation date, location, owners.

PLATFORM DATE 

INSTALLED

LEASE 

NUMBER

UNIT 

LOCATION

ORIGINAL 

OPERATOR

CURRENT 

OWNER(S)

CURRENT 

OPERATOR

XTO A 1964 18754 Outside Unit 

Boundary Shell XTO Energy XTO Energy

Baker 

(Operations 

suspended*)

1965 17595

North Middle

Ground 

Shoal

Amoco Unocal 

Forest Oil Unocal

Granite Point 1966 18761 South 

Granite Point Mobil Exxon Mobil Unocal Unocal

Monopod 1966 18731 Outside Unit 

Boundary Unocal Marathon 

Unocal Unocal

Anna 1966 18742 Outside Unit 

Boundary Amoco Unocal Unocal

Bruce 1966 18742 Outside Unit 

Boundary Amoco Unocal Unocal

Dillon

(Operations 

suspended)

1966 18746

South Middle 

Ground 

Shoal

Amoco Unocal Unocal

XTO C 1967 18756 Outside Unit 

Boundary Shell XTO Energy XTO Energy

King Salmon 1967 18772 Trading Bay Arco Marathon 

Unocal Unocal

Grayling 1967 17594 Trading Bay Unocal Marathon 

Unocal Unocal

Dolly Varden 1967 18729 Trading Bay Unocal Marathon 

Unocal Unocal

Tyonek 1968 17589 North Cook 

Inlet

Phillips 

Petroleum

Conoco 

Phillips

Conoco 

Phillips

Spurr

(Operations 

suspended)

1968 17597 North Trading 

Bay Texaco Marathon 

Unocal Marathon

Spark

(Operations 

suspended)

1968 17597 North Trading 

Bay Texaco Marathon Unocal Marathon

Steelhead 1986 18730 Trading Bay Arco Marathon 

Unocal Unocal

Osprey 2000 381203 Redoubt Forest Oil Forest Oil Forest Oil

* All wells on Spurr and Spark have been plugged except for a gas well and a disposal well. The wells on Dillon and Baker are 

inactive–save for gas and disposal wells–but have not been plugged.

Cook Inlet Commercial Fishery Vessel Traffic

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) fishery salmon/groundfish 

data was cross-referenced with the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

(CFEC) vessel database to develop Table 5. The data set includes statewater groundfish registrations, Lower Cook Inlet salmon seine fleet and 

Upper Cook Inlet salmon drift gill net fleet. There are some limitations 

in using this data to determine the number of commercial fishing vessels 

operating in Cook Inlet. The state-waters registration list does not indicate
20 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

whether a vessel was actively fishing in Cook Inlet. Not all CFEC database 

information was complete. Therefore, median/average calculations use

the number of vessels reporting this information and are not necessarily a

reflection of the total number of vessels in each size class. However, we can 

draw some general conclusions from this data. As indicated by Table 5,

86% of 570 vessels included in the ADFG records are between 31 feet and

50 feet and predominantly carry diesel as a fuel source. The leading vessel

size class (31’-40’) has a median fuel capacity of 355 gallons. 

Table 5: Commercial vessels registered for Cook Inlet ADFG salmon/groundfish 

fishery.

Vessel 

Length

Number of 

Vessels

Number of 

Diesel

Number of 

Gas

Median Fuel 

Capacity 

(gallons)

Average 

Gross 

Tonnage

> 20 1 0 1 30 0

21 - 30 66 32 34 250 10

31 - 40 401 304 94 355 15

41 - 50 82 82 0 1,000 28

51 - 60 7 7 0 1,200 51

61 - 70 0 0 0 0 0

71 - 80 1 1 0 1,000 131

81 - 90 0 0 0 0 0

91 - 100 1 1 0 18,000 210

100 < 0 0 0 0 0

Appendices B1 and B2 are the results of a CFEC vessel database query 

for 2005 Kenai Peninsula vessel license applications, categorized by vessel

owner home address. Vessels participating in any portion of commercial 

fishing operations, with the exception of set net skiffs and vessels used in 

certain areas outside of the Cook Inlet, are required to register for a vessel

license. However, these vessels may not necessarily participate in Kenai

Peninsula or Cook Inlet fisheries. Nor do the tables reflect specific vessel 

traffic for the Cook Inlet, but rather give an overview of vessel owners 

registered on the Kenai Peninsula and what percentage of the 990 registered 

vessels are diesel or gasoline powered commercial fishing vessels. As can be 

seen in Appendices B1 and B2, the average fuel capacity for all commercial 

fishing vessels is 692 gallons with roughly 60% of the vessels burning diesel 

fuel and 40% powered by gasoline. In Appendix B2 the median length of 

the registered vessel is 32.0 feet with a positive skew of 1.7, meaning most

vessels registered are greater than 32.0 feet in length. The average fuel tank

capacity is 692.1 gallons. 
December 2006 21

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Upper Cook Inlet has two management districts, Northern and Central. 

Drift gill net fishing occurs only in the Central district. The Lower Cook Inlet 

management area has four management districts with the Southern district

accounting for 85% of drift gill salmon harvest (see Figure 6). ADFG 2005 

landing data shows 479 vessels landed salmon in Upper Cook Inlet. For 

the Lower Cook Inlet, 187 vessels landed groundfish and 37 vessels landed 

salmon in the seine fishery.

In Appendix C, 2005 fishery dates collected from managing agency 

publications show a monthly overview of fishing activity by openings/

closures for the Cook Inlet. Based on the Appendix C, the most commercial 

fishing vessel traffic for Cook Inlet occurs mid-May through mid-September, 

with year-round Pacific cod effort.

Safe navigation can be compromised when fishing vessels set their nets in 

areas where deep draft vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver. 

However, marine pilots report that this is rarely a problem. When it is the

most likely location is the approach to Nikiski during drift gill net fishery 

openings. See Figure 6. We are not aware of any casualties involving a

commercial fishing vessel and a large tank ship or freight carrier.

Figure 6. Cook Inlet, Alaska Fisheries Information.
22 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

General Conclusions Regarding Commercial Fishing Vessel Traffic

Given the limitations in the data, it is difficult to make precise statements 

regarding commercial fishing vessel activity. However, if a commercial 

fishing vessel were to be involved in a 

casualty (collision, sinking, or grounding) it 

would likely:

•	 Have on board 300-1000 gallons of diesel

fuel,

•	 Occur in mid Cook Inlet during late

spring or summer,

• Be between 30 and 40 feet in length, and

• Be constructed of fiberglass or 

aluminum.

Tugs

As mentioned earlier, tug traffic is relatively 

light. Tugs made approximately 150 fuel

barge transits a year, assist in docking

and undocking ships in Nikiski and

Anchorage, and move miscellaneous deck

and gravel barges in and out of the Port of

Anchorage. The most capable vessel is the

tractor tug Stellar Wind, operated by Cook Inlet Tug and Barge and moored 

in Anchorage. This vessel is employed whenever a tankship of 90,000 

deadweight tons (DWT) or more calls at Nikiski or Anchorage. Coast Guard 

records indicate that fourteen (14) tankers of this size moored at Cook Inlet 

facilities over a 18 month period. See Table 6. Marine pilots report that they

use docking tugs only about 5% of the time at the Nikiski terminals.

Table 6. Ships in Excess of 90,000 Deadweight Tons Calling at Cook Inlet from January 1, 

2005 to 15 July 2006.

Ship Name Ship 

Number

Cook 

Inlet 

Port 

Calls

Ship Registry Type Gross 

Tons

Deadweight 

Tons Cargo Cargo Capacity

Length 

(Feet)

SANKO 

QUALITY 9066174 2 LIBERIA Tanker 52498 95628 Oil 110323 810

RATNA URVI 8813568 3 INDIA Tanker 54980 96088 Oil 108358 795

PALMSTAR 

LOTUS 9002506 1 BAHAMAS Tanker 57450 100314 Oil 118528 803

CAPE AVILA 9167033 3 CYPRUS Tanker 57148 105337 Oil 117834 800

Angelica

Schulte 9296822 3 LIBERIA Tanker 56153 106433 Oil 499000 797

BUNGA 

KELANA DUA 9131125 1 MALAYSIA Tanker 57017 106976 Oil 117972 800

ALASKAN 

FRONTIER 9244659 1 UNITED STATES Tanker 110693 193049 Oil Not 

reported 905

Source: US Coast Guard Advance Notice of Arrival records, US Coast Guard Port State Information Exchange, and 

Lloyd’s Registry.

Photo used with permission of Jay 

Potts www.americanfocus.com.
December 2006 23

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

The USCG at Sector Anchorage maintains a list of companies capable of

providing marine towing resources. See pages B-119 and B-155, Part Two, 

of the Cook Inlet Sub-area Contingency Plan. 

The following area companies provide tugs and towing services. Tugs listed

here may not be available or out of the area on any given date.

Company Location Tug Name and Horsepower

Cook Inlet Marine Homer Various

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge Anchorage Tractor Tug Stellar Wind (3000 hp)

Tug Pacific Bay (1800 hp)

SeaCoast Towing Marine Services Anchorage Various tugs for towing fuel barges

Hooper Bay Anchorage Tug Hooper Bay (1800 hp)

Casualties in Cook Inlet

We examined Coast Guard incident investigations from May 1, 1990 through 

August 1, 2006. These records included vessel casualties and reports of

pollution from vessels, facilities and offshore platforms in Cook Inlet. See

Figure 5 and Table 4 for a list and locations of the platforms.

A vessel casualty must be reported to the US Coast Guard if it occurs

upon the navigable waters of the U.S., its territories or possessions; or

whenever and wherever a casualty involves a U.S. vessel. Public vessels

and recreational vessels are exempt from these reporting requirements.13 

Casualties include: groundings; loss of main propulsion; primary steering or

reduction in maneuverability; occurrences that reduce seaworthiness (fire, 

flooding, damage to or loss of fire extinguishing, lifesaving or bilge pumping 

systems); loss of life; injuries requiring professional medical treatment; 

vessel damage exceeding $25,000; and spills of oil and hazardous material. 

Typically, accidents, fatalities, injuries and other casualties are reported

on Coast Guard standard form CG-2692 and entered into the Marine 

Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE). Approximately 

13,300 accident and spill reports from U.S. vessels operating in or near

Alaska territorial waters were entered into the Coast Guard MISLE database,

between June 22, 1990 and August 1, 2006. The majority of these reports 

were for pollution or personnel injury. For this study, we focused only

on casualties affecting the seaworthiness of the vessel. Casualties were

grouped by first event. For example, if a vessel lost steering, resulting 

in grounding, flooding, and damage to the environment by oil spill, the 

13 46 CFR 4.01-3.
24 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

casualty was classed as a loss of maneuverability. We excluded first-event 

spills and personnel casualties that did not effect the overall safe navigation

of the vessel. Table 7 summarizes 225 of those casualties (3.7% of total 

Alaska reports), reported to have occurred in Cook Inlet.14 Appendix E lists

each casualty by date, vessel name, vessel type (when reported), degree of 

monetary damage, and latitude/longitude.

Close-quarters or near-miss incidents are not required to be reported. Nearmiss reports are helpful in determining areas of risk.15 We have included

an informal Coast Guard report of a near-miss incident in the ‘Casualties

of Interest’ section of this report, although this event was not entered in the

Coast Guard MISLE system.

Of the 225 casualties, nine (9) were reported to have caused subsequent 

damage to the environmental by oil pollution. We suspect that there were

more incidents of secondary pollution than reported. For example, there

were several reports of sinking or total loss due to fire. Invariably, small 

amounts of oil leak from vessels subject to these types of casualties. We

assume, however, that if the spills were significant the Coast Guard 

investigators would have reported them.

For this study we separated, or in two cases combined, the accident reports

into ten casualty groups:

• Allision (Collision with a fixed object: dock, pier, dolphin, etc)

•	 Capsize

•	 Collision

•	 Explosion

•	 Fire

•	 Flooding, sinking, or abandonment

•	 Grounding

•	 Loss of Maneuverability

• Material Failure (subsequent structural damage to hull or through-hull 

fittings)

• Set Adrift/Breakaway

Please note that these groupings do not necessarily depict root cause of

the event. For exampling the 26 groundings reported were caused by bad

navigation or seamanship, uncharted rocks (maybe), and equipment failure. 

In addition, loss of maneuverability is reported for incidents where the risk

is small. For example, a vessel will report a radar off-line even though

14 To place this in perspective, about 47% of the casualty reports originated in Southeast Alaska, 8.0%

in Dutch Harbor, 5.0% in Kodiak, and 10% in Prince William Sound. Nearly 25% of the casualty reports

occurred on mainly fishing vessels operating in the Bering Sea, western Alaska or Gulf of Alaska.

15	 The New Zealand Maritime Safety Agency recently released a report of ferry safety in Cook Strait

where much use was made of near miss reports. See: http://www.msa.govt.nz/publications/general/

CookStraitReview.pdf
December 2006 25

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

two other radars are still functional. In other words, there are degrees of

‘loss of maneuverability’ that are not obvious within the summary of Coast

Guard records displayed in Table 7. These notes also apply to the full list of

casualties in Appendix E. 

Table 7: Cook Inlet Summary of Vessel Casualties Reported to US Coast Guard 

June 22, 1990 through August 1, 2006.

Accident or Event Total Comments

Allision 27 Includes one allision with oil production platform 

and one barge damaged by ice.

Capsize 2

Collision 20 Includes two barge/tug collisions.

Explosion 2 One explosion resulted in subsequent fire, sinking 

and pollution.

Fire 18 Included cargo hold fire on container ship moored 

at Port of Anchorage.

Flooding, sinking 40 Includes four abandonments

Grounding 26

Material Failure 17

Set Adrift/Breakaway 4 Includes breakaway of Seabulk Pride in February 

2006.

Loss of Vessel 

Maneuverability 69 Includes loss of electric power.

Total 225

Total, Alaska waters 5,922

During the period of study, there were 59 casualties resulting in damage to 

a vessel in excess of $20,000. In eleven of the incidences, vessel damage 

exceeded $250,000. The most significant casualties were M/V Glacier Bay 

spill in 1987 (which is earlier than the records studied in this report), the 

capsizing of the barge Oregon in 1997, the Container Ship Greatland cargo 

hold fire in 2003, and the breakaway of the tankship Seabulk Pride in 2006.

Casualties of Interest16

1. Explosion and subsequent fire (on board the 113-ft supply vessel Alaska 

Constructor on November 2, 1988). The explosion ignited a tank truck 

containing 3,000 gallons of gasoline, thus multiplying the consequences

of the casualty. Three lives were lost and the vessel was destroyed. 

Water pollution was minor. 

2. Potential for ammonia release (M/V EEKLO at Agrium Wharf on 

February 11, 2005): During loading ammonia, an able bodied seaman 

(AB) inadvertently slacked instead of tightened one of the bow mooring 

16 Sources: (1) Conversation and follow-up e-mail with Lt Ken Phillips, Marine Safety Detachment supervisor 

Kenai. 1 Nov 2006, (2) Whitney, John. 2002. Cook Inlet, Alaska Oceanographic and Ice Conditions and 

NOAA’s 18-Year Oil Spill Response History 1984-2001, and (3) ADEC records.
26 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

wires in heavy (5.7 kt) current and ice coverage. This caused the gas 

ship M/V EEKLO to move 3-12 feet aft, shifting the loading arm, and 

subsequently shutting down the loading process. The Coast Guard

issued a requirement to secure loading when currents exceed 4kt on the

flood. 

3. Tow-Tug collision (SCT Barge 282 and tugboat Pacific Challenger near 

Homer March 22, 2006): The SCT Barge 282 was departing from 

Pioneer Dock in Homer under the Tugboat PACIFIC CHALLENGER.

The tug and barge were about to round the spit in Kachemak Bay 

when the PACIFIC CHALLENGER rolled in a swell pushing the PACIFIC

CHALLENGER into the starboard bow of the SCT Barge 282. At that 

time no damages were identified. The barge continued onto Port 

Graham where they discovered damage to the bow.This collision

resulted in a fracture in the #1 starboard cargo tank in way of the deck

edge. No spill observed. The product in tank #1 was offloaded at Port 

Graham.

4. Tow-Tug collision (towing vessel Paragon and Barge 344, underway in 

Cook Inlet, January 21, 2006): The Paragon was struck by the barge 

it was towing when an ice pan slowed the progress of the Paragon and

allowed the barge to overtake it. Barge 344 struck the Paragon’s stern 

causing a 4” wide by 18” long hole in the port forward void space of

Barge 344.

5. Ship allision with dock (M/V PEONY at Agrium dock, October 18, 2005): 

Unexpected heavy weather set the ship into the pier causing structural

damage to the pier initially estimated at less than $100,000. A pilot 

was requested and arrived on board but was unable to move the ship

due to low tide levels. Damage to the vessel is minimal on the port bow

and does not affect seaworthiness. Allision was caused by unexpected

extreme weather conditions and was ruled unavoidable by Coast Guard

investigators.

6. Dragging anchor and near miss in Kachemak Bay (Informal report by 

the Coast Guard). Two Coast Guard marine safety personnel were on 

board the M/V STEWART ISLAND conducting an ice rules boarding 

when it began to drag anchor. The wind was ‘blowing pretty hard’.

The STEWART ISLAND came within 30-40 yards of colliding with the

SEABULK PRIDE, which was anchored as well. Anchoring guidelines for 

Kachemak Bay were written as a result. See Appendix D.

7. Container ship fire (M/V Greatland at the Port of Anchorage, May 19, 

2002): Shortly after mooring at the Port of Anchorage, personnel on 

the container ship M/V Greatland discovered a fire in one of the cargo 

holds. Trained marine firefighters from the Anchorage Fire Department 

entered the compartment and found several school buses smoldering. 
December 2006 27

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

They extinguished the fire and there was no serious damage to the 

vessel. The fire was believed to have originated from a small fuel oil leak 

on one of the buses. This was the first serious marine fire at Port of 

Anchorage since the 1960’s.

8. Freight Barge capsize (Crowley Barge OREGON, south Cook Inlet, 

January 25, 1997) . This barge suffered a breach (hole) amidships, took 

on water, and overturned. The entire load of 12,500 tons solid urea was

lost.

9. Vessel collision with a moorage (M/V Chesapeake Trader and Christy 

Lee Dock, January 1, 1998). While coming along side, the Chesapeake 

Trader hit and damaged the catwalk of the moorage. Damage to the

vessel was superficial, but the moorage catwalk needed to be replaced, 

costing $425,000.

10. Freight ship breakaway (M/V OCEAN LAUREL, Nikiski, January 31, 

1999). While moored at the pier during periods of heavy icing the vessel 

was struck by a large pan of ice, estimated to be 3⁄4 mile in length. The

vessel was sheared off the pier, parting 19 mooring lines, and struck the 

pier face, resulting in approximately $40,000 in damage to the mooring 

structure and $20,000 in damage to the vessel. The hull was indented 

in two locations above the waterline along the portside.

11. Tank barge breakaway (T/B ENERGIZER, Nikiski, January 19, 2000). 

The barge was moored to the Kenai Pipeline (KPL) dock when it was 

struck by a large pan of ice, parting mooring lines and the cargo transfer

hose. Approximately 60 gallons of isomerate (an oil distillate used in 

blending gasoline) spilled into the water. The barge cargo pipe header 

and deck crane were damaged.

12. Freight ship breakaway (M/V TORM PACIFIC, Nikiski, January 20, 

2000). The ship was moored portside to the Alaska Nitrogen Products 

Terminal (Agrium) when it was struck by a large pan of ice moving at 

approximately 5.3 knots. The vessel was sheared from the pier, parting

24 mooring lines, and struck the terminal’s northern catwalk. The

catwalk was destroyed and the ship sustained some damage above the

waterline.

13. Tank ship breakaway (Seabulk Pride, Nikiski, February 2, 2006). This 

601-foot double-hull oil cargo tanker, broke free of its moorings at Kenai

Pipeline Dock, Nikiski. It drifted north until grounding about a half mile

away along the bluff at the East Forelands. Initial investigations indicate

that heavy ice and strong tidal currents were main factors in causing

the breakaway. The vessel was re-floated without significant oil spillage. 

However, catastrophe was narrowly averted, given the numerous rocks

and reefs in the vicinity.
28 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Pollution from Vessels

Between January 1, 1992 and August 30, 2006 there were 295 oil spills 

reported to the Coast Guard from vessels operating in Cook Inlet. Of

that total, 286 were spills not connected to a vessel casualty (grounding, 

collision, fire, or sinking). One hundred and twenty eight (128) spills (43% 

of the total) were small diesel or gasoline spills from fishing vessels and 

pleasure craft. All the spills were reported as “not serious”. This means that

the Coast Guard classified the spills as minor.17

During the same period there were 333 spills reported from the 15 Cook

Inlet oil production platforms. 

Between 1996 and 2002 ADEC reported 126 spills in Cook Inlet from 

vessels.18 All were minor. All spills combined only contributed 7415 gallons

of the 500,359 gallons of oil spilled in the Cook Inlet sub-area during that 

period.

Most significant spills of the past 20 years have come from oil platforms or

on-shore facilities. Vessel spills19 of interest include:

• On July 2, 1987 at 0334, the tank ship Glacier Bay grounded south of 

the mouth of the Kenai River while enroute Nikiski to offload North Slope

crude oil. Hull damage resulted in a 130,000 gallon spill. The vessel

reportedly ran aground on an uncharted rock. (Note: This incident is a 

pre-spills database era report.)

• Spill response vessel M/V Sun Tide collision with the jack-up drilling rig, 

Gilbert Rowe, on August 23, 1993. The collision ruptured a fuel oil tank 

on the Sun Tide, releasing 6000 gallons of diesel fuel.

•	 Five hundred gallon light oil spill during loading operations on the tank

barge Annahootz at the Port of Anchorage on September 1, 1994.

As can be seen, significant oil spills from vessels are rare. Furthermore,

ADEC and Coast Guard records of the minor spills over the last 14 years

do not provide any particular insights that would assist prevention and

response planning for major or high consequence vessel spills. 

17	 The US Coast Guard categorizes oil spills into these sizes: minor - less than 10,000 gallons; medium -

10,000 to 99,999 gallons; and major - 100,000 gallons or more.

18 ADEC. Statewide Summary of Oil and Hazardous Material Spill Data July 1, 1995 - June 30, 2002 

(provisional report) See http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/perp/data.htm

19 Sources: (1) Whitney, John. 2002. Cook Inlet, Alaska Oceanographic and Ice Conditions and NOAA’s 18-

year Oil Spill Response History 1984-2001, and (2) ADEC spills database. See http://www.dec.state.ak.us/

spar/perp/data.htm.
December 2006 29

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Summary and Recommendations

1. Risk is traditionally defined as:

Risk = Probability X Consequence

	 Twelve vessels make 80% of the large vessel port calls in Cook Inlet. 

These vessels have the greatest potential (probability) for a Cook Inlet 

marine casualty due simply to their time in the inlet. Of the twelve,

five are gas or oil carriers where the consequence of environmental 

damage from a casualty is high. On the non-tank vessels, six vessels

carry a 0.5 to 1.2 million gallons of persistent fuel oil. The remaining

common carrier – AMHS ferry Tustumena – carries a much smaller

quantity of diesel fuel oil but it’s cargo (passengers) is of the highest 

value. Thus, continued or enhanced partnerships with and monitoring

of the operators of these vessels will address the majority of the risk of

significant or major vessel casualties and oil spills in Cook Inlet.

2.	 Risk analysis could be improved by requiring that near-miss incidents

be reported.

3. Severe environmental conditions (high winds, ice, strong tide currents) 

coupled with human error in negotiating these conditions during vessel

operations pose the most likely root cause of the next major vessel

casualty and oil spill. 

4.	 Cook Inlet is unique in that potentially the most serious casualties can

occur while a vessel is moored. Ice and strong tides broke the tankship

Seabulk Pride from its moorings in 2006. A serious ammonia spill was

narrowly averted when a gas ship shifted at the Agrium dock while

loading in 2005. A study of best mooring practices and monitoring of

their effectiveness will be an important contribution to vessel traffic risk 

management in Cook Inlet.
30 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

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December 2006 31

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Appendices

 Appendix A: 

Ship Arrivals at Cook Inlet January 1, 2005 to July 15, 2006 (Compiled from US Coast 

Guard Advance Notice of Arrival and Lloyd’s List).

Ship Name Ship 

Number

# 

Port 

Calls

Arrival 

Port Ship Registry Vessel Type

Gross 

Tons

Net 

Tons Cargo

Cargo 

Capacity 

(Tonnes)

Bunkers 

(tonnes)

Length 

(meters)

Alaska Rose 610984 1 Anchorage UNITED STATES Fishing 197

ALASKAN 

FRONTIER 9244659 1 Anchorage UNITED STATES Tanker 110693 193049 Oil

AMMON ACE 9143049 1 Kenai PANAMA Gen Cargo 15354 24157 Grain 10651 158

ANDRE 9123972 2 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17671 27836 Grain 38000 7844 177

ANDROMAR 9265885 1 Homer/

Nikiski/Anch CYPRUS Tanker 30000 46195 Oil 53500

Angelica Schulte 9296822 3 Nikiski LIBERIA Tanker 56153 106433 Oil 499000 240

ANTWERPEN 9318321 1 Kenai HONG KONG Liq Gas 22901 26361 Gas 34500 11322 174

ARCTIC SUN 9001784 28 Nikiski LIBERIA Liq Gas 66174 48857 Gas 88200 22340 239

AURORA ACE 9149732 1 Nikiski PANAMA Gen Cargo 15355 23923 Grain 28000 10713 158

BERGE HUGIN 9237747 7 Homer NORWAY Liq Gas 22902 26616 Gas 35197 13062

BERLIAN EKUATOR 9265548 5 Kenai PANAMA Liq Gas 22209 26776 Gas 35878 16847 165

BRUGGE VENTURE 9132789 4 Kenai HONG KONG Liq Gas 22352 26777 Gas 35418 13158 169

BRUSSELS 9142150 3 Homer BELGIUM Liq Gas 22323 26943 Gas 34745 14412 170

BUNGA KELANA 

DUA 9131125 1 Nikiski MALAYSIA Tanker 57017 106976 Oil 117972 244

CANMAR 

DYNASTY 9062984 1 Anchorage UNITED KINGDOM Container 23540 30621 TEU 2070 23540 187

CAPE AVILA 9167033 3 Nikiski CYPRUS Tanker 57148 105337 Oil 117834 244

CAPE FLATTERY 1111595 1 Homer UNITED STATES Other 495 1635 178

CAPE NELSON 9218076 2 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17433 28456 Grain 37732 9493 170

CAPE ORLANDO 7909968 1 Anchorage UNITED STATES Roro 

Cargo 15632 20731 TEU 1050 194

CAPTAIN ADAMS 9324710 1 Kenai BAHAMAS Bulk Carrier 16960 28398 Grain 37523 9512 169

CAPTAIN CORELLI 9237395 6 Homer/

Anch/Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 16963 28378 Grain 37523 9500 169

CAPTAIN H A 

DOWNING 5137767 25 Nikiski UNITED STATES Tanker 24458 39999 Oil 275676 207

CASTLE PEAK 9180011 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 16764 28545 Grain 37523 16764 169

CHALLENGE 

PROSPECT 9310692 1 Anchorage PANAMA Tanker 28823 48539 Oil 57298 180

CHEMBULK 

BARCELONA 9278662 2 Anchorage PHILIPPINES Tanker 20088 32345 Oil 35468 174

CLIPPER ODYSSEY 8800195 2 Homer/

Anchorage BAHAMAS Passenger 5218 938 Passenger 2421 103

COASTAL PILOT 7307184 1 UNITED STATES Fishing 196

COLUMBIA RIVER 9181508 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17429 28527 Grain 37695 8631 170

COURCHEVILLE 8804725 2 Kenai BELGIUM Liq Gas 19719 29171 Gas 28006 18079 167

DISCOVERY STAR 500072 1 Homer UNITED STATES Fishing 1432

EEKLO 9102198 9 Homer/

Kenai BELGIUM Liq Gas 23519 29458 Gas 36770 15193 179

ETERNAL 

CONFIDENCE 9257199 1 Kenai PANAMA Bulk Carrier 17953 29905 Grain 40031 12122 171

FILIA 9127681 1 Kenai PANAMA Gen Cargo 18812 27908 Grain 36254 9659 169

GLADIATOR 7390911 1 Nikiski UNITED STATES Tug 199

GOLDEN HARVEST 9172399 1 Kenai PANAMA Bulk Carrier 20947 10199 559

GREAT MORNING 9282780 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17679 28710 Grain 39052 9178 177

GUANG XING 

ZHOU 9295062 1 Nikiski CHINA Tanker 43062 74066 Oil 82000 229
32 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Ship Name Ship 

Number

# 

Port 

Calls

Arrival 

Port Ship Registry Vessel Type

Gross 

Tons

Net 

Tons Cargo

Cargo 

Capacity 

(Tonnes)

Bunkers 

(tonnes)

Length 

(meters)

HIGH CONSENSUS 9296585 1 Nikiski PANAMA Tanker 28059 45896 Oil 52499 180

HIGH PEACE 9288277 1 Nikiski SINGAPORE Tanker 28059 45888 Oil 53797 180

HORIZON 

ANCHORAGE 8419142 52 Anchorage United States Container 20965 7854 Containers 1668 216.4

HORIZON 

FAIRBANKS 7218462 20 Anchorage United States Container 22033 15357 Containers 1412 TEU 204

HORIZON KODIAK 8419166 47 Anchorage United States Container 20965 7854 Containers 1668 216.4

HORIZON 

TACOMA 8419154 53 Anchorage United States Container 20965 7854 Containers 1668 216.4

JAG VAYU 7413244 1 Kenai INDIA Liq Gas 21308 28400 Gas 70706 22763 191

KEOYANG 

MAJESTY 9131072 2 Homer PANAMA Gen Cargo 43181 48618 Grain 10800 23112 221

LAUREL ISLAND 9322748 1 Kenai PANAMA Bulk Carrier 16980 28556 Grain 37528 8688 169

MIDNIGHT SUN 80 Anchorage UNITED STATES Roro 

Cargo Containers 600 FEU 258

MOUNT TRAVERS 9263772 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 16978 28484 Grain 37523 8687 169

NAVIGATOR 562688 1 Nikiski UNITED STATES Fishing 148

NEW DIAMOND 9117868 1 Homer KOREA, 

REPUBLIC OF Bulk Carrier 16498 27239 Grain 35387 10546 167

NIN 9211547 1 Homer/

Kenai MALTA Bulk Carrier 17928 28373 Grain 38473 13688 172

NORTH STAR 80 Anchorage UNITED STATES Roro 

Cargo Containers 600 FEU 258

NORTHERN DAWN 9275995 1 Nikiski PANAMA Tanker 28822 47994 Oil 352815 180

Oak Harbour 9114610 3 Kenai HONG KONG Gen Cargo 17879 20760 Grain 38320 9996 171

OCEAN LOTUS 9312315 1 Kenai PANAMA Gen Cargo 16960 28432 Grain 37523 8687 169

PACIFIC HONOR 9267948 1 Nikiski PANAMA Tanker 28144 45800 Oil 337362 180

PACIFIC POLARIS 9270737 1 Nikiski PANAMA Tanker 28799 47999 Oil 360468 180

PALMSTAR LOTUS 9002506 1 Nikiski BAHAMAS Tanker 57450 100314 Oil 118528 245

PEONY 9250323 1 Kenai PANAMA Bulk Carrier 17979 29756 Grain 40031 11972 171

PITT ISLAND 9146807 2 Kenai CHINA Gen Cargo 66174 28611 Grain 38320 9995 172

POLAR EAGLE 9001772 27 Nikishka LIBERIA Liq Gas 29188 48817 Gas 88100 22379 239

PRO GIANT 9257723 1 Nikiski PANAMA Liq Gas 14704 46732 Gas 52599 183

RAFFLES LIGHT 9119074 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17979 24325 Grain 30716 15032 154

RANUNCULUS 9293868 1 Nikiski PANAMA Bulk Carrier 17879 29678 Grain 40031 11641 171

RATNA URVI 8813568 3 Kenai INDIA Tanker 54980 96088 Oil 108358 242

SANKO QUALITY 9066174 2 Homer LIBERIA Tanker 52498 95628 Oil 110323 247

SEA PRINCE 555271 2 Homer UNITED STATES Tug 198 38

SEABULK ARCTIC 9131371 35 Drift River/

Nikiski UNITED STATES Tanker 30415 46094 Oil 342042 183

SEABULK PRIDE 9118630 23 Drift River/

Nikiski UNITED STATES Tanker 30415 46094 Oil 342000 183

SH GRACE 9316957 1 Nikiski PANAMA Bulk Carrier 17944 29828 Grain 40031 11696 171

SHINYO 

CHALLENGE 9124146 1 Kenai HONG KONG Gen Cargo 18108 27940 Grain 36255 10291 169

SIAM OCEAN 9123934 1 Homer PANAMA Bulk Carrier 30153 33800 Grain 74152 9361 175

SILVER BAY 9159050 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 15949 26516 Grain 35944 8422 170

SILVER SHADOW 9192167 1 Homer BAHAMAS Passenger 28258 2980 Passengers 9045 182

Spirit of Oceanus 8802868 1 Homer BAHAMAS Passenger 4200 645 Passengers 1284 90

TASMAN SEA 9218064 1 Kenai HONG KONG Bulk Carrier 17433 28456 Grain 37732 8503 170

TORM CARINA 9263708 1 Homer DENMARK Tanker 30024 44990 Oil 52162 183

TRISTAR DUBAI 8613281 1 Homer BAHAMAS Tanker 27997 50600 Oil 49941 182

TUSTUMENA 6421086 122 Homer/

Seldovia UNITED STATES Ferry 2174 Passengers, Vehicles

220 

passengers; 

46 vehicles

257 81.8

704
December 2006 33

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Appendices B1 and B2: 

These table are the results of a Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

(CFEC) vessel database query for 2005 Kenai Peninsula vessel license 

applications, categorized by vessel owner home address. Vessels 

participating in any portion of commercial fishing operations, with the 

exception of set net skiffs and vessels used in certain areas outside of the

Cook Inlet, are required to register for a vessel license. However, these

vessels may not necessarily participate in Kenai Peninsula or Cook Inlet

fisheries. Nor do the tables reflect specific vessel traffic for the Cook 

Inlet, but rather give an overview of vessel owners registered on the Kenai

Peninsula. Appendix B1 show what percentage of the 990 registered vessels 

are diesel or gasoline powered and the predominant hull construction

material. In Appendix B2 the median length of the registered vessel is 32.0 

feet with a positive skew of 1.7, meaning most vessels registered are greater

than 32.0 feet in length. The average fuel tank capacity is 692.1 gallons. 
34 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study
December 2006 35

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Notes:

 (1) This report is based on information provided on vessel license 

application forms. The information may contain omissions or errors. If

information is omitted (unknown) the sum of the vessels in the category 

will be less than the total number of vessels. For example, the sum of

the vessels by hull type will be less than the total number of vessels in

the area if this information not been provided on all applications.

 (2) Vessels can be used for more than one activity and can use multiple gear 

types. As a result, in these categories a vessel may be counted multiple

times. Some vessels may not be counted at all if the activity or gear

information was not provided on the vessel license application.

 (3) The Number of Vessels Represented is the number of vessels used 

to calculate the average, median, and skewness. Since the vessel

application may contain omissions, not all vessels can be used when

developing this information. A low percentage of the total vessels

indicate that the figure comes from a very small group and may not be 

representative of the area’s fleet. 
36 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

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December 2006 37

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Appendix C: 

Fishery Timeline for Cook Inlet.
38 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

This page is intentionally blank.
December 2006 39

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Appendix D: 

Captain of the Port, Western Alaska Navigation Advisory: Special Operating 

Guidelines for Vessels Anchoring in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. February 6, 2006.
40 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

CAPTAIN OF THE PORT, WESTERN ALASKA

NAVIGATION ADVISORY

Subj: SPECIAL OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR VESSELS ANCHORING IN

KACHEMAK BAY, ALASKA

Working in consultation with the Southwest Alaska Pilot’s Association (SWAPA) and

representatives of the marine industry, the Coast Guard has developed special operating

guidelines for vessels anchoring in Kachemak Bay. The waters of Cook Inlet and Kachemak

Bay are environmentally sensitive and a precious economic and environmental resource. These

guidelines were developed in response to past instances of vessels dragging anchor in Kachemak

Bay. While the majority of companies and vessels have good procedures for responding to

heavy weather, it is apparent by these past incidents that there are gaps that need to be filled to

ensure all are taking the appropriate precautions. These guidelines shall be followed at all times

by any vessel anchoring in Kachemak Bay. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the

issuance of a Captain of the Port Order under Title 33 United States Code (USC) 1221.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL VESSELS:

1. 33 CFR Part 164.19 (a) & (b): Ensure that a proper anchor watch is maintained at all times.

Utilize all means available in order to detect the dragging of the anchor.

While anchored in Kachemak Bay, a 24-hour bridge watch shall be maintained by an

English-speaking deck watch officer.

2. 33 CFR Part 164.19 (c): Whenever the weather conditions are such that it is likely the

anchor will drag, appropriate actions are taken in order to ensure the safety of the vessel,

structures, and other vessels. Appropriate actions include: veering more chain, letting go a

second anchor or getting underway using the vessel’s own propulsion or tug assistance.

3. 33 CFR Part 160.215: A vessel dragging anchor in port during severe weather always

constitutes a hazardous condition. As such, the requirement to give a Notice of Hazardous

Condition(s) applies. The agent, master, operator, or person in charge shall ensure that the

Marine Safety Office Anchorage or Marine Safety Detachment Kenai is immediately

notified of a hazardous condition as soon as practicable.

Coast Guard Unit Office Number After Hours Number

Marine Safety Office Anchorage (907) 271-6700 (907) 229-8203

Marine Safety Detachment Kenai (907) 283-3292 (907) 398-6267

U.S. Coast Guard

Captain of the Port

Western Alaska

510 L Street, Suite 100

Anchorage, AK 99501-1946

Staff Symbol: MSD Kenai

Phone: (907) 271-6700

Fax: (907) 271-6751

16710

February 4, 2006
December 2006 41

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

16710

February 4, 2006

2

SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR HEAVY WEATHER:

1. Gale Warnings (forecasted and/or actual winds in excess of 34 knots)

a. The propulsion plant shall be on standby and ready to provide immediate propulsion.

b. The vessel’s position and under-keel clearance shall be confirmed at a minimum of once

every 15 minutes by the licensed deck watch officer.

c. Ensure second anchor is made ready for letting go.

2. Storm Warnings (forecasted and/or actual winds in excess of 48 knots) All of above plus

The vessel master shall consult with the local Coast Guard, SWAPA and the vessel

agent to discuss the following measures.

a. Consider increasing the scope of anchor chain as appropriate.

b. Determine the availability and locations of potential stand by tugs (with appropriate size

and horsepower), which could assist the vessel in holding position.

c. Assess the need to get a pilot on board.

d. If the Master and Pilot deem it necessary, put to sea for the duration of the heavy

weather.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS:

1. Any vessel found not maintaining an adequate anchor watch in accordance with 33 CFR

164.19(a) & (b) may be assessed civil penalties of up to $27,500 assessed for each violation.

2. Any vessel failing to give notice of a hazardous condition, as defined by 33 CFR 160.215,

may be assessed civil penalties of up to $27,500 assessed for each violation.

3. Any U.S. Coast Guard licensed master of a U.S. flagged vessel who fails to abide by this

navigation advisory may be subject to suspension and revocation hearings of their license

under 46 USC 7701.

4. The Captain of the Port reserves the authority at all times to order a vessel to operate or

anchor in a manner directed when there is reasonable cause to believe the vessel is not in

compliance with any regulation, law, or treaty. Further, a Captain of the Port Order is

justified in the interest of safety by reason of weather, visibility, sea conditions, port

congestion, temporary hazardous circumstances, or the condition of the vessel. (33 CFR

160.111)
42 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

16710

February 4, 2006

3

I invite comment or proposed revision to these guidelines. As best practices evolve and lessons

are learned, I anticipate and welcome changes to these guidelines.

Sincerely,

M. R. DEVRIES

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard

Captain of the Port

Western Alaska

Copy: Southwest Alaska Pilot’s Association

Alaska Maritime Agencies
December 2006 43

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

Appendix E: 

Vessel Casualties in Cook Inlet Recorded by the US Coast Guard (May 1, 1990 

through August 1, 2006).

NOTE: This list is likely not exhaustive, particularly for the earlier years. When the location of the incident is not 

recorded, the latitude and longitude is “zero” degrees.

Activity 

Date Vessel Name Vessel Type Initial Event Type

Vessel 

Property 

Damage

Latitude Longitude

09/12/1991 FLAMENCO Not Specified Grounding Not Reported N 61° 13’ 30.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

11/17/1991 MONARCH Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Grounding Not Reported N 60° 45’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 00.00”

11/18/1991 MONARCH Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Grounding $150,000.00 N 60° 44’ 30.00” W 151° 18’ 24.00”

12/21/1991 MALOLO Towing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 22’ 30.00” W 152° 02’ 30.00”

02/03/1992 SEA VENTURE I Fishing Vessel Sinking $150,000.00 N 59° 24’ 12.00” W 151° 55’ 24.00”

02/16/1992 LAFAYETTE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Collision $55,000.00 N 60° 46’ 48.00” W 151° 31’ 36.00”

02/22/1992 MORNING STAR Fishing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 59° 29’ 48.00” W 151° 40’ 00.00”

02/29/1992 LAFAYETTE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Collision $10,000.00 N 60° 44’ 30.00” W 151° 18’ 24.00”

03/06/1992 255 Barge Grounding $0.00 N 60° 41’ 12.00” W 151° 23’ 42.00”

03/19/1992 CAPRICORN Fishing Vessel Fire $295,000.00 N 59° 33’ 00.00” W 151° 54’ 00.00”

05/12/1992 AK4709H Recreational Vessel Sinking $0.00 N 59° 36’ 06.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

05/16/1992 SEA VIKING/Barge 

101

Fishing Vessel/Barge Collision $0.00 N 60° 41’ 18.00” W 151° 23’ 48.00”

05/20/1992 LAFAYETTE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$5,000.00 N 60° 44’ 30.00” W 151° 18’ 24.00”

06/04/1992 NO PROBLEM Uninspected 

Commerical Vessel

Allision $0.00 N 59° 25’ 00.00” W 151° 54’ 30.00”

07/13/1992 DONNA B Fishing Vessel Sinking $89,200.00 N 60° 31’ 48.00” W 151° 22’ 18.00”

07/29/1992 NOVIC Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 10’ 00.00” W 151° 55’ 00.00”

07/30/1992 PEGASUS Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 20’ 00.00” W 152° 10’ 00.00”

08/20/1992 LITTLE ALEX Fishing Vessel Sinking $50,000.00 N 59° 15’ 00.00” W 151° 55’ 00.00”

08/30/1992 SPECULATOR Not Specified Sinking Not Reported N 61° 13’ 30.00” W 149° 54’ 30.00”

09/03/1992 SONIC BOOM Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 32’ 00.00” W 151° 40’ 00.00”

09/15/1992 SEALAND KODIAK General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Allision Not Reported N 61° 13’ 00.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

10/11/1992 FAMILY AFFAIR Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 39’ 00.00” W 151° 26’ 30.00”

11/15/1992 DAROL TIDE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$6,000.00 N 61° 02’ 36.00” W 150° 58’ 42.00”

11/19/1992 ATLANTIC 

SEAHORSE

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Grounding Not Reported N 60° 42’ 18.00” W 151° 24’ 12.00”

12/07/1992 TEAM HADA Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 14’ 54.00” W 149° 55’ 00.00”

12/23/1992 BANDA SEAHORSE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 00’ 36.00” W 151° 00’ 24.00”

12/26/1992 COAST RANGE Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 61° 10’ 36.00” W 150° 18’ 18.00”

12/28/1992 ZB19 Barge Allision Not Reported N 61° 02’ 30.00” W 151° 10’ 00.00”

12/28/1992 ENGINE OIL 

COOLER

Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 44’ 24.00” W 151° 18’ 24.00”
44 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

02/12/1993 CORNUCOPIA Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 32’ 00.00” W 151° 28’ 00.00”

02/20/1993 LAFAYETTE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Grounding $0.00 N 60° 44’ 36.00” W 151° 19’ 30.00”

02/22/1993 ATLANTIC 

SEAHORSE

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Loss of Electrical 

Power

$0.00 N 60° 30’ 00.00” W 151° 30’ 00.00”

02/23/1993 ATLANTIC 

SEAHORSE

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 45’ 00.00” W 151° 24’ 30.00”

03/21/1993 MUSTANG ISLAND Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 61° 04’ 18.00” W 150° 56’ 30.00”

04/03/1993 OVERSEAS 

WASHINGTON

Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 33’ 54.00” W 151° 28’ 12.00”

04/21/1993 PACIFIC VENTURE/

SHADY LADY

Fishing Vessel Collision Not Reported N 59° 09’ 12.00” W 154° 06’ 06.00”

05/05/1993 AK 0180 E Recreational Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 35’ 00.00”

05/09/1993 LISA MARIE Fishing Vessel Fire $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

05/10/1993 REDOUBT/BMC38 Not Specified Allision Not Reported N 61° 18’ 00.00” W 149° 45’ 00.00”

05/18/1993 BORN FREE Passenger Vessel Flooding $50.00 N 59° 35’ 00.00” W 151° 40’ 00.00”

05/20/1993 VOLNA Fishing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 59° 15’ 00.00” W 151° 56’ 00.00”

05/29/1993 SUN TIDE Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 35’ 30.00” W 151° 26’ 30.00”

06/06/1993 ATLANTIC 

SEAHORSE

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 54’ 00.00” W 151° 10’ 00.00”

06/11/1993 GLADYS M Not Specified Sinking Not Reported N 59° 31’ 36.00” W 153° 03’ 00.00”

06/23/1993 ATLANTIC 

SEAHORSE

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Collision $0.00 N 60° 54’ 18.00” W 151° 10’ 18.00”

06/30/1993 CHAR DAN Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

07/02/1993 BLACK FISH Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 35’ 30.00” W 151° 26’ 30.00”

07/21/1993 INUPIAT Fishing Vessel Collision $0.00 N 60° 34’ 06.00” W 151° 23’ 12.00”

07/23/1993 DUTCH TREAT Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 36’ 06.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

07/25/1993 PHALAROPE Fishing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 59° 40’ 00.00” W 151° 54’ 00.00”

08/03/1993 NUNIVAK Fishing Vessel Loss of proplusion/

Collision

Not Reported N 59° 37’ 00.00” W 151° 27’ 00.00”

08/03/1993 SALLY G Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 40’ 12.00” W 151° 50’ 00.00”

08/06/1993 CASCADE Fishing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 60° 30’ 12.00” W 151° 20’ 06.00”

08/07/1993 BARCONI Fishing Vessel Fire Not Reported N 59° 17’ 36.00” W 152° 02’ 36.00”

08/07/1993 PRESTON BROOKS Fishing Vessel Sinking $0.00 N 58° 51’ 12.00” W 152° 01’ 18.00”

08/23/1993 SEA FLIGHT I Fishing Vessel Abandonment $0.00 N 59° 25’ 48.00” W 152° 06’ 24.00”

09/03/1993 FREE TRADER Towing Vessel Sinking $90,000.00 N 59° 31’ 36.00” W 151° 52’ 30.00”

09/18/1993 DENA’INA Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 46’ 00.00” W 152° 04’ 00.00”

10/12/1993 DIMITROS Not Specified Sinking $0.00 N 60° 40’ 06.00” W 151° 23’ 12.00”

11/04/1993 JOLLY ROGER Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 40’ 24.00” W 151° 23’ 18.00”

11/16/1993 BANDA SEAHORSE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 60° 45’ 00.00” W 151° 18’ 00.00”

02/17/1994 OVERSEAS 

WAHSINGTON

Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 06’ 00.00” W 151° 04’ 00.00”

03/12/1994 BANDA SEAHORSE Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Fire Not Reported N 60° 47’ 00.00” W 151° 50’ 00.00”

03/25/1994 WESTERN AVENIR Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 60° 40’ 18.00” W 151° 23’ 42.00”

05/14/1994 DAWNING STAR Not Specified Allision Not Reported N 59° 37’ 00.00” W 151° 27’ 00.00”
December 2006 45

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

05/21/1994 STELLAR WIND Towing Vessel Allision Not Reported N 59° 36’ 18.00” W 151° 24’ 48.00”

05/27/1994 STORMBIRD Not Specified Grounding $0.00 N 59° 36’ 06.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

06/05/1994 NO PROBLEM Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 40’ 00.00” W 152° 00’ 00.00”

06/05/1994 ROBIN Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 16’ 24.00” W 151° 59’ 18.00”

06/12/1994 KILL SHOT Fishing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 59° 26’ 18.00” W 151° 49’ 36.00”

07/02/1994 DEVA Not Specified Flooding Not Reported N 60° 04’ 00.00” W 152° 08’ 00.00”

07/07/1994 YA SHUR Fishing Vessel Collision Not Reported N 59° 33’ 00.00” W 151° 56’ 00.00”

07/08/1994 LUCKY PIERRE II Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 35’ 36.00” W 151° 23’ 54.00”

07/12/1994 JOLLY ROGER Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 31’ 00.00” W 151° 28’ 00.00”

08/17/1994 WARDS COVE 

PACKING CO. 

SCOW

Fishing Vessel Sinking $0.00 N 60° 30’ 42.00” W 151° 37’ 30.00”

10/04/1994 SEALAND KODIAK General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 13’ 00.00” W 149° 53’ 00.00”

11/27/1994 MONARCH Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Grounding $100,000.00 N 60° 50’ 00.00” W 151° 19’ 00.00”

12/03/1994 BALTIMORE 

TRADER

Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 30’ 00.00” W 151° 50’ 00.00”

12/08/1994 CHAMPION Not Specified Allision $0.00 N 60° 57’ 24.00” W 151° 19’ 30.00”

12/08/1994 POTOMAC 

TRADER

Tank Ship Material Failure $0.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 152° 23’ 24.00”

12/29/1994 VAMANOS Recreational Vessel Sinking $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 00.00”

02/04/1995 KATMAI Fishing Vessel Allision $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

03/11/1995 POTOMAC 

TRADER

Tank Ship Allision $0.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 30.00”

03/19/1995 KELLY MARIE Fishing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 58° 55’ 12.00” W 152° 13’ 30.00”

03/23/1995 BALTIMORE 

TRADER

Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 30.00”

03/24/1995 BALTIMORE 

TRADER

Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 30.00”

07/07/1995 ENTERPRISE II Not Specified Flooding $0.00 

08/08/1995 LAWRENCE H. 

GIANELLA

Tank Ship Allision Not Reported N 61° 13’ 00.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

09/12/1995 SEA HAWK Not Specified Grounding Not Reported N 61° 11’ 30.00” W 150° 09’ 00.00”

09/26/1995 FRANCES E Not Specified Sinking $0.00 N 59° 26’ 00.00” W 151° 42’ 00.00”

11/14/1995 YAHTSE Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

12/15/1995 MONARCH Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$2,000.00 N 60° 52’ 00.00” W 151° 36’ 00.00”

12/27/1995 CRYSTAL RIVER Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 00’ 54.00” W 150° 57’ 36.00”

03/09/1996 GREAT LAND / 

STELLAR WIND

General Dry Cargo 

Ship/Towing Vessel

Material Failure Not Reported N 61° 13’ 06.00” W 149° 53’ 36.00”

06/27/1996 Not Named Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

07/28/1996 SIERRA MADRE Tank Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 13’ 06.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

12/17/1996 ALTAIR Not Specified flooding $0.00 N 59° 28’ 00.00” W 151° 29’ 00.00”

01/01/1997 BARGE 103 Barge Allision, Ice 

Damage

Not Reported N 61° 14’ 12.00” W 149° 53’ 30.00”

01/25/1997 OREGON Barge Sinking/Capsize $1,000,000 N 60° 06’ 00.00” W 151° 52’ 00.00”

02/25/1997 Not Named Unknown Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 39’ 30.00” W 150° 23’ 00.00”
46 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

02/27/1997 DESTROYER Not Specified Loss of Electrical 

Power

Not Reported N 59° 41’ 00.00” W 149° 43’ 00.00”

03/01/1997 NOVIC Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 18’ 48.00” W 152° 00’ 00.00”

05/06/1997 ALASKA Fishing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 58° 53’ 24.00” W 152° 26’ 00.00”

08/08/1997 BLUE OX Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 12’ 30.00” W 150° 57’ 48.00”

09/07/1997 N. LIGHTS Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 30’ 30.00” W 150° 20’ 30.00”

09/08/1997 MARINE 

COMMANDER/

SHELL C

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Allision $250,000.00 N 60° 46’ 00.00” W 151° 30’ 06.00”

09/27/1997 Not Named Not Specified Sinking $0.00 N 59° 02’ 00.00” W 151° 43’ 00.00”

01/01/1998 Chesapeake 

Trader

Tankship Allision with Dock $432,000.00 N 60° 33’ 12.00” W 152° 08’ 00.00”

01/03/1998 CHAMPION Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Allision $0.00 N 60° 57’ 24.00” W 151° 19’ 30.00”

05/15/1998 HANJIN ISTANBUL General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Collision $20,000.00 N 59° 37’ 24.00” W 151° 24’ 18.00”

06/02/1998 CHEECHAKO Fishing Vessel Abandonment $60,000.00 N 59° 58’ 30.00” W 152° 07’ 00.00”

09/12/1998 GREATLAND General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 20’ 00.00” W 150° 30’ 00.00”

09/23/1998 ABBY M Towing Vessel Fire/Loss of 

Electrical Power

$75,000.00 N 59° 20’ 00.00” W 152° 01’ 54.00”

12/15/1998 CURRENT Fishing Vessel Capsize $0.00 N 59° 38’ 00.00” W 151° 20’ 00.00”

01/31/1999 OCEAN LAUREL General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Allision $60,000.00 N 60° 40’ 30.00” W 151° 23’ 00.00”

02/25/1999 HANJIN ISTANBUL General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 38’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 48.00”

03/07/1999 ZHENFEN 19 Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 32’ 00.00” W 151° 34’ 30.00”

06/08/1999 SPIT RAT Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 33’ 00.00” W 151° 50’ 00.00”

06/09/1999 MACHINATOR Fishing Vessel Fire $0.00 N 60° 25’ 00.00” W 151° 30’ 00.00”

07/01/1999 FOXFIRE Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 35’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 00.00”

07/01/1999 HALIBUT 

ENDEAVOR

Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 07’ 42.00” W 152° 08’ 48.00”

07/07/1999 IRENES Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Abandonment $265,000.00 N 59° 13’ 00.00” W 152° 10’ 00.00”

07/08/1999 IKATTOK Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Flooding $0.00 N 62° 20’ 00.00” W 150° 08’ 00.00”

07/16/1999 CHAMPION Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Allision $5,000.00 N 60° 48’ 12.00” W 151° 37’ 30.00”

07/16/1999 BRISK Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Collision $0.00 N 59° 35’ 30.00” W 151° 26’ 12.00”

09/05/1999 SEA STAR Recreational Vessel Fire $40,000.00 N 59° 26’ 00.00” W 151° 53’ 00.00”

09/26/1999 SEALAND 

ANCHORAGE

General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Grounding Not Reported N 61° 14’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 06.00”

09/28/1999 SEALAND 

TACOMA

General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Grounding Not Reported N 61° 14’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 06.00”

10/30/1999 T-MIKE Fishing Vessel Fire $700,000.00 N 59° 29’ 00.00” W 150° 09’ 00.00”

11/30/1999 TUSTEMENA Passenger Vessel Allision $20,000.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 24’ 48.00”

12/01/1999 HOMEBAR I Barge Flooding $150,000.00 N 59° 10’ 06.00” W 151° 50’ 18.00”

01/14/2000 TORM PACIFIC General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 14’ 00.00” W 151° 37’ 00.00”

01/19/2000 ENERGIZER Tank Barge Breakaway/Allision Not Reported N 60° 44’ 12.00” W 151° 23’ 06.00”
December 2006 47

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

01/20/2000 TORM PACIFIC General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Allision $250,000.00 N 60° 44’ 12.00” W 151° 23’ 06.00”

01/25/2000 VIGOR Fishing Vessel Grounding $2,000.00 N 59° 36’ 12.00” W 151° 25’ 24.00”

03/30/2000 HANJIN BRISBANE General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Allision $30,000.00 N 60° 39’ 18.00” W 151° 23’ 00.00”

04/26/2000 STELLAR WIND Towing Vessel Allision Not Reported N 61° 14’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 06.00”

05/14/2000 FLYING BEAR III Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Flooding $0.00 N 59° 53’ 54.00” W 152° 04’ 48.00”

05/23/2000 SILVER FOX 4 Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 45’ 00.00” W 151° 58’ 00.00”

06/16/2000 HALIBUT 

ENDEAVOR

Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 24’ 30.00” W 152° 12’ 00.00”

07/02/2000 PORIFERA Fishing Vessel Grounding $75,000.00 N 61° 33’ 06.00” W 151° 19’ 30.00”

07/03/2000 TALKEETNA Not Specified Collision Not Reported N 62° 19’ 18.00” W 150° 07’ 06.00”

07/03/2000 NAUTI LADY Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 30’ 00.00” W 151° 35’ 00.00”

07/07/2000 AK8545M Not Specified Collision Not Reported N 61° 42’ 00.00” W 150° 19’ 00.00”

07/17/2000 SHADY LADY Fishing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 60° 23’ 00.00” W 151° 20’ 00.00”

07/30/2000 POTOMAC 

TRADER

Tank Ship Allision $0.00 N 60° 23’ 12.00” W 152° 08’ 00.00”

08/06/2000 GUARDIAN Towing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 03’ 00.00” W 150° 57’ 42.00”

09/29/2000 GUARDIAN Towing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 16’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 00.00”

11/15/2000 CISPRI 

RESPONDER

Barge Collision $10,000.00 N 60° 45’ 30.00” W 151° 22’ 30.00”

11/29/2000 FOX RIVER Landing Craft Fire $400,000.00 N 58° 48’ 00.00” W 152° 25’ 00.00”

12/12/2000 SEABULK 

MONTANA

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Allision $0.00 N 59° 25’ 36.00” W 151° 43’ 48.00”

12/16/2000 CAPE LOOKOUT 

SHOALS

Tank Vessel Loss of Electrical 

Power

$0.00 N 59° 35’ 12.00” W 151° 31’ 30.00”

01/20/2001 LADY L Fishing Vessel Flooding $300,000.00 N 59° 04’ 24.00” W 150° 59’ 00.00”

01/30/2001 SEABULK 

MONTANA

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$20,872.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

02/04/2001 PETROBULK 

CHALLENGER

Tank Ship Loss of Electrical 

Power

$0.00 N 59° 35’ 00.00” W 151° 40’ 00.00”

02/06/2001 WESTWARD 

VENTURE

General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Fire/Loss of 

Electrical Power

Not Reported N 61° 11’ 30.00” W 150° 12’ 00.00”

03/23/2001 CAPE HUDSON General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 61° 11’ 00.00” W 150° 15’ 00.00”

06/28/2001 RAIN DANCER Fishing Vessel Fire $120,000.00 N 59° 59’ 36.00” W 152° 25’ 30.00”

06/29/2001 MISS MINMAR Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

$25,000.00 N 59° 24’ 00.00” W 152° 04’ 00.00”

07/05/2001 HOURI Fishing Vessel Fire/Sinking $75,000.00 N 60° 06’ 42.00” W 151° 58’ 30.00”

07/17/2001 Reel Deel Fishing Vessel Fire Not Reported 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

07/26/2001 CHILKAT WARRIOR Barge Allision $12,000.00 N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 24’ 00.00”

08/02/2001 SPIT RAT Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 59° 04’ 12.00” W 151° 51’ 12.00”

10/11/2001 PIONEER SERVICE Towing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 60° 38’ 00.00” W 151° 44’ 54.00”

11/21/2001 ENGINEER Not Specified Abandonment $0.00 N 60° 07’ 18.00” W 151° 40’ 06.00”

12/30/2001 SEABULK PRIDE Tank Ship Material Failure Not Reported N 61° 14’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

01/04/2002 Harris Sand and 

Gravel

Towing Vessel Collision $0.00 N 58° 36’ 20.00” W 151° 25’ 30.00”

01/24/2002 LYDIA C Fishing Vessel Fire Not Reported 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

03/16/2002 HIGHTIDE Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 54’ 06.00” W 151° 12’ 00.00”
48 December 2006

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

05/11/2002 BIRD SONG Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

$1,600.00 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

05/19/2002 GREAT LAND General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Fire Not Reported N 61° 14’ 18.00” W 149° 53’ 06.00”

05/19/2002 FishBuster Fishing Vessel Material Failure $40.00 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

06/30/2002 Marcy J. Not Specified Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

07/19/2002 Numerous vessels 

in Kasilof

Fishing Vessel Set Adrift $9,000.00 N 60° 00’ 00.00” W 154° 41’ 00.00”

07/27/2002 Comanche Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 60° 31’ 14.00” W 151° 17’ 43.00”

07/30/2002 Russian River Ferry Passenger Vessel Collision $0.00 N 60° 29’ 00.00” W 150° 00’ 00.00”

08/02/2002 Aurora & Alpine 

Cove

Fishing Vessel Collision $0.00 N 59° 30’ 00.00” W 151° 45’ 00.00”

08/03/2002 Barren Islands Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 152° 06’ 00.00”

08/09/2002 Dream Catcher Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 00° 00’ 00.00” 000° 00’ 00.00”

10/08/2002 SHELLFISHER Fishing Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 31’ 19.00” W 151° 28’ 55.00”

11/23/2002 Salmon Express Fishing Vessel Set Adrift $145,000.00 N 59° 21’ 00.00” W 151° 49’ 06.00”

11/24/2002 Seabulk Montana Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Material Failure $0.00 N 60° 46’ 00.00” W 151° 21’ 00.00”

12/01/2002 KONRAD I Fishing Vessel Fire $0.00 N 59° 36’ 12.00” W 151° 25’ 18.00”

12/13/2002 Hanjin Calcutta General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

$0.00 N 60° 40’ 00.00” W 151° 20’ 00.00”

12/21/2002 Anmaj Tank Ship Material Failure $0.00 N 60° 50’ 00.00” W 151° 20’ 00.00”

01/10/2003 HAVKONG Tank Ship Material Failure $0.00 N 60° 40’ 05.00” W 151° 23’ 27.00”

05/09/2003 MIDNIGHT SUN General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Loss of Electrical 

Power

Not Reported N 61° 14’ 16.00” W 149° 53’ 42.00”

05/12/2003 KRS 250-1 Barge Allision Not Reported N 61° 13’ 05.00” W 149° 53’ 03.00”

05/19/2003 Keta Fishing Vessel Explosion $0.00 N 59° 27’ 00.00” W 151° 24’ 00.00”

05/30/2003 SOCKEYE Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Fire $0.00 N 59° 36’ 15.00” W 151° 25’ 27.00”

06/07/2003 AK5514F Recreational Vessel Flooding $0.00 N 59° 18’ 00.00” W 152° 00’ 00.00”

06/25/2003 AMERICAN EAGLE Not Specified Grounding $0.00 N 59° 21’ 33.00” W 151° 54’ 27.00”

07/22/2003 Spit Rat Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Material Failure $0.00 N 59° 36’ 00.00” W 151° 25’ 00.00”

07/23/2003 LYKES EAGLE General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Allison Not Reported N 61° 14’ 30.00” W 149° 52’ 15.00”

09/18/2003 Pioneer Service 

/ Barge 141 

Collision

Towing Vessel/Barge Collision $150,000.00 N 60° 45’ 45.00” W 151° 18’ 18.00”

09/19/2003 Patriot & Lummi 

Island

Barge Material Failure Not Reported N 61° 13’ 59.00” W 149° 53’ 33.00”

02/02/2004 PIONEER SERVICE Towing Vessel Grounding $0.00 N 60° 47’ 02.00” W 151° 31’ 47.00”

04/08/2004 GLACIER WIND Towing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 61° 15’ 10.00” W 149° 53’ 05.00”

04/13/2004 SEABULK 

MONTANA

Offshore Supply 

Vessel

Material Failure $0.00 N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”

04/20/2004 CENTURY HOPE Not Specified Allision $1,000.00 N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”

04/24/2004 BLARNEY Towing Vessel Material Failure $0.00 N 59° 43’ 06.00” W 151° 52’ 00.00”

06/28/2004 THE RIGHT ONE/

ROULETTE

Not Specified Material Failure $0.00 N 59° 52’ 10.00” W 152° 13’ 00.00”

09/07/2004 MIDNIGHT SUN General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 60° 23’ 14.00” W 151° 18’ 10.00”

09/25/2004 Barge 141 Barge Material Failure $238,000.00 N 60° 45’ 36.00” W 151° 18’ 36.00”

11/03/2004 SEA DUCER Recreational Vessel Sinking Not Reported N 61° 14’ 16.00” W 149° 53’ 42.00”

1/31/2005 RED BARON Fishing Vessel Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 14’ 30.00” W 152° 18’ 00.00”
December 2006 49

Cook Inlet Vessel Traffic Study

2/21/2005 KITTIWAKE II Fishing Vessel Fire Not Reported N 59° 36’ 12.00” W 151° 25’ 18.00”

5/21/2005 HARD EIGHT Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 60° 03’ 29.00” W 151° 39’ 47.00”

7/13/2005 BLUE FOX Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Material Failure Not Reported N 58° 53’ 46.00” W 152° 51’ 45.00”

7/19/2005 AK8626K Fishing Vessel Capsize Not Reported N 59° 20’ 11.00” W 151° 47’ 15.00”

8/6/2005 TODAY Fishing Vessel Explosion Not Reported N 60° 23’ 14.00” W 151° 18’ 10.00”

8/22/2005 FOXFIRE Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”

9/6/2005 TUSTUMENA Passenger Ship Vessel 

Maneuverability

Not Reported N 59° 26’ 12.00” W 151° 43’ 04.00”

10/18/2005 PEONY Bulk Carrier Allision Not Reported N 60° 47’ 02.00” W 151° 31’ 47.00”

12/27/2005 HORIZON 

TACOMA

General Dry Cargo 

Ship

Material Failure Not Reported N 61° 14’ 30.00” W 149° 53’ 18.00”

1/21/2006 344 Barge Collision Not Reported N 60° 57’ 36.00” W 151° 04’ 05.00”

1/21/2006 PARAGON Towing Vessel Collision Not Reported N 60° 57’ 36.00” W 151° 04’ 05.00”

2/2/2006 SEABULK PRIDE Tank Ship Breakaway/

Grounding

Not Reported N 60° 41’ 00.00” W 151° 23’ 29.00”

3/22/2006 PACIFIC 

CHALLENGER

Towing Vessel Collision Not Reported N 59° 36’ 56.00” W 151° 24’ 07.00”

3/22/2006 SCT 282 Barge Collision Not Reported N 59° 36’ 56.00” W 151° 24’ 07.00”

6/6/2006 NO NAME Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Flooding Not Reported N 60° 03’ 00.00” W 151° 46’ 00.00”

6/12/2006 SILVER FOX I Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Flooding Not Reported N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”

7/18/2006 BEAR FORCE II Recreational Material Failure Not Reported N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”

7/20/2006 BOB WHITE Fishing Vessel Grounding Not Reported N 60° 32’ 52.00” W 151° 15’ 52.00”

7/24/2006 BEAVER Passenger Vessel 

(uninspected)

Material Failure Not Reported N 59° 37’ 57.00” W 151° 31’ 58.00”