Spills

Unimak island at cave point, alaska

F/V Controller Bay; Unimak Island At Cave Point, Alaska · NOAAORR-7399

issued
1999-05-08 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1999-05-22 00:00Z
self-cancels
1999-05-22 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Bering Sea
position
54.803, -164.602
vessels
F/V CONTROLLER BAYF/V CONTROLLER BAY FELL ASLEEP
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

F/V Controller Bay; Unimak Island at Cave Point, Alaska.
Unimak Island at Cave Point, Alaska.
1. Early in the morning of May 8, 1999, with the vessel on autopilot, the master of the 78-foot F/V Controller Bay fell asleep at the wheel. The vessel went aground at Cave Point on Unimak Island releasing roughly 7000 gallons of fuels producing a sheen about 50 feet wide and 1 mile long stretching off to the north and east. The four members of the crew were rescued by another fishing boat. Heavy weather and high winds persisted throughout the area and contributed to the accident. On-scene conditions of 24-foot seas were reported. On a May 10 USCG overflight, the vessel was reported to be severely damaged and breaking up with only the stern visible. The powerful storm made it impossible to unload the fuel before the vessel broke up on the rocks. USCG district 17. Keyword: diesel, no response.
2. COMMODITY: DIESEL, HYDRAULIC FLUID, AND LUBE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 7000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 54.803N 164.602W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7399: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7399

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