Automatic source timelinePrince William Sd., Fleming Isl., AlaskaTimeline updated 3 Oct 2026

F/V Northern Mariner; Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska

NOAA initial notification: “The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Valdez on the morning of August 8 of the intentional grounding of the 92' F/V Northern Mariner two hours before the high tide on the previous afternoon of August 7 after striking a rock. The vessel contains 25,000 gallons of diesel in 6 wing […]”[1]

Follow the timeline Latest included source reportOriginal sources (9)

Latest included source report

Posted 23 Aug 2008

Latest source report

“On Thursday, August 21, the weather in the Gulf of Alaska was calm enough to allow towing of the F/V Northern Mariner from PWS to Seward, AK, for final repairs to the vessel. During the incident, a total of 25,000 gallons of diesel were litered, and none was released into the water. Case Closed.” Current outcome is not independently verified by seahazards.[9]

NOAA report chronology

9 dated source records · 7 Aug 2008 to 23 Aug 2008
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NOAA incident record opened

Initial notification excerpt: “The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Valdez on the morning of August 8 of the intentional grounding of the 92' F/V Northern Mariner two hours before the high tide on the previous afternoon of August 7 after striking a rock. The vessel contains 25,000 gallons of diesel in 6 wing tanks, 3 on each side of the vessel and was loaded with fish, but no release has occurred. The captain reports that damage occurred about 6 ft. from the nearest fuel tank - a one foot long hole in the forward engine room. Four persons were successfully abandoned on the evening of August 7, and MSU Valdez has requested a trajectory for a possible release. The vessel's proximity to the San Juan fish hatchery is of […]”

NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track

Initial incident area only. Dates are NOAA postings, not a vessel track. Playback advances every 5 seconds.

Milestone 1 of 9: 7 Aug 2008. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track

  1. NOAA incident record opened

    Initial notification excerpt: “The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Valdez on the morning of August 8 of the intentional grounding of the 92' F/V Northern Mariner two hours before the high tide on the previous afternoon of August 7 after striking a rock. The vessel contains 25,000 gallons of diesel in 6 wing tanks, 3 on each side of the vessel and was loaded with fish, but no release has occurred. The captain reports that damage occurred about 6 ft. from the nearest fuel tank - a one foot long hole in the forward engine room. Four persons were successfully abandoned on the evening of August 7, and MSU Valdez has requested a trajectory for a possible release. The vessel's proximity to the San Juan fish hatchery is of […]”

    NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (60.176°, -148.003°)

    NOAA Office of Response and Restoration

  2. Coast Guard Sit Rep for evening, August 8

    Source report excerpt: “MER - FISHING VESSEL NORTHERN MARINER AGROUND - PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND IC: SECTOR ANCHORAGE/MSU VALDEZ MISLE: N/A WEATHER: NSTR SITUATION: Update 08 Aug: Fishing Vessel NORTHERN MARINER grounded on 07AUG08. Damage includes a one FT hole in the forward portion of vessel. A Unified Command was established at Marine Safety Unit Valdez with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Responsible Party (RP) representatives participating. A morning overflight revealed a six FT by two FT sheen from residual oil in the bilge; the fuel tanks are believed to be intact with an estimated 28,500 gals of diesel. Boom was deployed around the vessel and protective boom was placed outside a nearby […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  3. State ADEC Polrep for August 11

    Source report excerpt: “RESPONSE ACTIONS: On August 10, 2008, R & R Diving recovered 900 gallons of diesel fuel from the day tank. To date, a total of 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel has been recovered from the vessel. Salvage masters from Global Diving and Salvage, Inc. and Marine Engineering Consultant arrived on site on August 10, 2008 to head the salvage operation The tender vessel Roberta M arrived on site at 3:15 AM on August 11, 2008. The Roberta M crew members inspected the three holding tanks and found that the water in the forward tank contained sheen. No contamination was evident in the aft holding tanks. ADEC Environmental Health representative is estimated to arrive on site at 2:30 PM today to inspect […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  4. Coast Guard Sit Rep for evening, August 11

    Source report excerpt: “MER - FISHING VESSEL NORTHERN MARINER AGROUND - PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND IC: SECTOR ANCHORAGE/MSU VALDEZ MISLE: N/A WEATHER: Visibility N/A, Sea State 2 FT, Ceiling N/A, Air 55 F, Sea N/A, Wind VAR / 10 KTS SITUATION: UPDATE 111930 August 08: NORTHERN MARINER has been patched and refloated. The fish is currently being taken off the vessel. Once the stability is checked, the vessel will be lightered to remove the remaining fuel. CASE PEND”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  5. Siuation report of vessel as of noon on August 12

    Source report excerpt: “RESPONSE ACTIONS: ADEC Environmental Health staff from Valdez arrived on site around noon yesterday, August 11, 2008, and inspected the fish on board the F/V Northern Mariner and determined that the fish in the aft holding tanks were not contaminated with fuel. At approximately 3:00 PM, R & R diving completed making temporary repairs to the vessels hull. By 10:00 PM, the F/V Northern Mariner was refloated upon completion of dewatering the vessel. The vessel was then relocated to a safe anchorage approximately 400 yards from the grounding location. Today, August 12, 2008, at 7:00 AM, the tender vessel Roberta M completed transfer of fish cargo from the vessels holding tanks. Approximately […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  6. Wed. morning, August 13, Situation report

    Source report excerpt: “MER - FISHING VESSEL NORTHERN MARINER AGROUND - PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND IC: SECTOR ANCHORAGE/MSU VALDEZ MISLE: N/A WEATHER: NSTR SITUATION: 121740U August 08: NORTHERN MARINER was refloated late 11AUG and has been anchored alongside the Motor Vessel ALASKAN CHALLENGER in Thumb Bay on the South side of Knight Island. There have been 295,000-lbs of fish removed from the vessel. The remaining fuel oil from the double bottom tanks is in the process of being removed. Patches are holding with minimal leakage. It is anticipate the vessel will have only residual fuels on board after Tuesday night and is awaiting tow pending weather. CASE PENDS.”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  7. ADEC situation report for Wed. mid day, August 13

    Source report excerpt: “RESPONSE ACTIONS: Today, August 13, 2008, approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel in the starboard side was lightered. The remaining fuel in the 5,000-gallon tank on the port side will be lightered today. The lube and hydraulic oil will also be lightered. During the vessel inspection, a crack was discovered in the engine room aft bulk head. The crack has been repaired. The F/V Northern Mariner will remain in Thumb Cove until all the fuel has been lightered and the sea conditions improve. The sea condition is expected to improve by Sunday according to the weather forecast. The F/V Northern Mariner will be towed to Seward by Tug Junior when wind and seas permit in accordance with the […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  8. CG Situation report-August 14

    Source report excerpt: “MER - FISHING VESSEL NORTHERN MARINER AGROUND - PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND IC: SECTOR ANCHORAGE/MSU VALDEZ MISLE: N/A WEATHER: NSTR SITUATION: UPDATE 14AUG08: Fishing Vessel NORTHERN MARINER has been completely lightered of fuel and hydraulic oils and remains anchored in Thumb Bay awaiting a tug for transport to Seward for repairs. Total fuel and oily waste removed estimated to be 26,000 GALS. 50 gallons of lube oil remain on board in a non-integral, sealed tank. Captain of the Port (COTP) required revisions to submitted tow plan, and those revisions are on-going. Expected tow departure date is August 18 based on tug availability. Demobilized SERVS and they are removing boom from Sawmill Bay. […]”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive

  9. Final Sitrep and close out

    Source report excerpt: “On Thursday, August 21, the weather in the Gulf of Alaska was calm enough to allow towing of the F/V Northern Mariner from PWS to Seward, AK, for final repairs to the vessel. During the incident, a total of 25,000 gallons of diesel were litered, and none was released into the water. Case Closed.”

    NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive
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Details in the record

Source record
NOAA IncidentNews 7869[1]
Dated source updates
8[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Reading this account

Automatically assembled from NOAA's incident record and substantive Public Affairs or Situation Update posts. Dates are NOAA posting dates, which can differ from when events happened or original reports were published. Excerpts retain the source's wording and uncertainty. This account does not independently establish the cause, current outcome or safety of the area. NOAA coverage is selective; missing updates do not mean nothing happened. The map shows one approximate incident area, not a vessel track.

These are excerpts from the source, not independently verified conclusions. Publication order can differ from the sequence of events. Follow the source links for the complete reports.

Original sources

Timeline updated 3 Oct 2026. New reports and changes to this NOAA incident are incorporated automatically; this is not a live incident feed.

  1. 1.F/V Northern Mariner; Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska ↗NOAA Office of Response and Restoration · 7 Aug 2008
  2. 2.Coast Guard Sit Rep for evening, August 8 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 9 Aug 2008
  3. 3.State ADEC Polrep for August 11 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 12 Aug 2008
  4. 4.Coast Guard Sit Rep for evening, August 11 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 12 Aug 2008
  5. 5.Siuation report of vessel as of noon on August 12 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 13 Aug 2008
  6. 6.Wed. morning, August 13, Situation report ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 13 Aug 2008
  7. 7.ADEC situation report for Wed. mid day, August 13 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 14 Aug 2008
  8. 8.CG Situation report-August 14 ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 15 Aug 2008
  9. 9.Final Sitrep and close out ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 23 Aug 2008

Related records in our archive

Original source text, preserved separately from this account.

NOAAORR-7869 NOAA response record
F/V Northern Mariner; Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska.
Prince William Sd., Fleming Isl., Alaska.
1. The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Valdez on the morning of August 8 of the intentional grounding of the 92' F/V Northern Mariner two hours before the high tide on the previous afternoon of August 7 after striking a rock. The vessel contains 25,000 gallons of diesel in 6 wing tanks, 3 on each side of the vessel and was loaded with fish, but no release has occurred. The captain reports that damage occurred about 6 ft. from the nearest fuel tank - a one foot long hole in the forward engine room. Four persons were successfully abandoned on the evening of August 7, and MSU Valdez has requested a trajectory for a possible release. The vessel's proximity to the San Juan fish hatchery is of paramount concern to the Coast Guard. Current efforts are being focused on litering both the fuel and the fish to lighten the vessel as well as to partially deploy the pre-staged boom around the hatchery.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: DIESEL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 25000 GALLONS. TAGS: GROUNDING.
3. POSITION 60.176N 148.003W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7869: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7869
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