Chemical Tanker Runs Aground off Alaska

Champion Tankers Norway-flagged chemical tanker Champion Ebony, carrying around 14.2 million gallons of fuel, ran aground near Nunivak Island, Alaska, on June 24, the US Coast Guard said. The tankers crew managed to refloat the vessel and make way under its own power to deeper water briefly afterwards. There were 24 member aboard the 46,938 dwt vessel at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported. A coast guard airplane crew conducted an over-flight of the double-hulled tanker and reported no signs of pollution in the vicinity of the tanker. “Our primary concern is to protect the environment,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Lindsey Green, a Sector Anchorage watchstander, said. The vessel was anchored for a damage assessment. Champion Ebonys AIS data shows that the 2004-built vessel is still in the area, underway using engine. The tanker is managed by Champion Tankers, a Norway-based ship operating company.