Oops.
Posted on 01/30/2009 7:13:27 PM PST by GATOR NAVY
The Alaska state ferry Lituya broke free from its moorings in Metlakatla overnight with no one aboard and ran aground a mile north on Scrub Island in Port Chester, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 180-foot vessel dislodged at its home berth in the Southeast town at about 1 a.m. to begin its phantom voyage.
The vessel was spotted aground earlier today, and preliminary reports indicate the Lituya suffered damage to its keel coolers, which were leaking some antifreeze -- the quantity was not immediately clear -- and damage to the vessel's plates, said state Department of Transportation spokesman Roger Wetherell.
"The ship's hull has suffered some heavy insets," Wetherell said. "The internal hull's integrity has not been breached, which is good news for us."
Weather at the time the boat slipped off was reported to be severe, he said. Earlier this morning, the Coast Guard was reporting southeast winds at 26 mph with gusts to 80 mph. Visibility was 3 miles, with heavy rain and seas reaching 8 feet, the Coast Guard said.
The DOT bought the Lituya in 2003 for $9.7 million, he said. The vessel is one of the youngest in the Alaska Marine Highway's 11-ship fleet, he said.
Wetherell said it is common practice for ships to be tied up and left unattended overnight.
"They were done sailing," he said. "The crew is based in Metlakatla, so when they tie up in Metlakatla, they're done."
Crews from the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Coast Guard were working to salvage the ferry.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Oops.
'xactly my thinkin'.
Bummer. What’s a keel cooler?
Rather than pump corrosive raw water through your equipment for cooling, install a keel cooler - you will extend your components life and never again have to clean a plugged strainer!
Ideal for shallow coastal waters where seaweed, algae, mud, sand and silt are a constant problem.
These coolers can be surface mounted,recessed or side mounted and have very little drag when properly installed.
Palin’s fault? ;^) /sarc>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Lituya
I see you escaped to Alaska, Chief. Congratulations!
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