Cougar Ace Remains Afloat but Listing

The “Cougar Ace,” a 654-foot Singapore-flagged car carrier notified the United States Coast Guard last Sunday to advise them that the vessel was listing and taking on water. In response, the Coast Guard cutter “Rush” was diverted and rushed to the scene, but given the vessel’s position of about 230 miles south of the Aleutian Islands a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft was also dispatched, arriving early on the following morning. The stricken vessel had 23 crew members on board, one of whom had suffered a broken leg. The vessel, said to be operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, was reportedly enroute to the port of Tacoma from Japan with more than 4,000 vehicles on board. Lines.

After dropping liferafts and immersion suits for the crew, a rescue plan was coordinated between the Coast Guard command center and the Alaska Air National Guard in Anchorage. Helicopter crews converged on the scene on Monday evening and began the process of hoisting crewmembers off the vessel. Three helicopters combined to lift all crew from the scene and the operation was completed by 2143 hours of the same evening and the injured crewmember was transported to Anchorage for medical treatment. The rescue took place in rough seas and dealt with a vessel which was nearly resting on its side.

The Coast Guard cutter Rush arrived at approximately 1000 hours on Tuesday and immediately launched a small boat for the purpose of determining whether pollution had occurred and to monitor the situation. Observers have reported a light sheen extending some two miles from the vessel, which is carrying fuel oil and diesel fuel. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation was also monitoring the situation and had offered assistance in the event that it became necessary. Crowley Marine has reportedly been contracted to provide salvage response for the vessel and a Crowley Marine subsidiary salvage group has dispatched a vessel which is expected to arrive at the Ace Cougar’s position on or about August 2.

Coast Guard assets are continuing to monitor the scene for pollution and will be active participants in the salvage process, but no Coast Guard investigation has been initiated since the incident took place in international waters. Coast Guard officials say that “having succeeded in the primary mission of preventing loss of life and injury, the next immediate concern will be the successful salvage of the Cougar Ace.” An internal investigation into the cause of the incident was underway, although initial speculation is pointing towards imbalance in the intake of ballast water. The latest information made available to MarEx indicated that the 1993-built vessel was stable and didn’t appear to be sinking.