Spills · grounding

Prince of wales island, alaska

M/V Mary Kathryn H; Prince of Wales Island, Alaska · NOAAORR-6655

issued
1989-01-23 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1989-02-06 00:00Z
self-cancels
1989-02-06 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
The Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia
position
55.140, -131.940
vessels
TUG CONTAINED · 5 messagesM/V MARY KATHRYN H
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

M/V MARY KATHRYN H; Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
1. At approximately 1800 on January 20, 1989, the tugboat MARY KATHRYN H grounded in heavy weather at the entrance to Smith Cove, on the east side of Prince of Wales Island. The vessel rested on its starboard side on a reef and was awash at high tide. The tug contained approximately 7,000 gallons of diesel, of which less than 100 gallons were lost prior to plugging the fuel tank vents. High winds from the southeast and heavy seas made access to the vessel difficult. USCG district 17.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: DIESEL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 100 GALLONS. TAGS: GROUNDING.
3. POSITION 55.140N 131.940W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6655: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6655

This area · spills & pollution incidents

94 within 180 nm since 1986 · 7 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

86
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Worldwide now

8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.