[FONT=times new roman]ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is responding to a barge, which grounded near Kodiak, Alaska, Saturday. The 382-foot barge DBL106 ran aground approximately two miles from Kodiak with a potential of 2.2 million gallons of fuel products aboard while being towed by the 124-foot motor vessel Bismarck Sea. The barge was successfully refloated, but Coast Guard officials have directed the vessel to anchor until a damage assessment is conducted. Coast Guard watchstanders at the Sector Anchorage command center received a report of the grounding from Kirby Offshore Marine, the owners of the Bismarck Sea, early Saturday morning. Sector Anchorage personnel requested the launch of a C-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to provide an overflight of the area and diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Spar to the scene. No sign of pollution was reported at the time of the grounding. Once at anchor, the vessel will be boomed off to prevent any potential pollution from spreading. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Kodiak will conduct an overflight of the area at first light and Coast Guard inspection personnel will deploy to the scene to examine the barge. “The Coast Guard is deploying resources to the scene and has directed the vessel’s owners to anchor until a thorough damage assessment can be made,” said Capt. Paul Mehler, Sector Anchorage commander. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of the public and the environment.” No injuries were reported. The weather on scene is reported to be calm with 11-17 mph winds and 3-4 foot seas.
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