Alaska News

Tug vessel hits object, spills diesel fuel into Nushagak River

A tug vessel hit a submerged object just east of Dillingham early Wednesday and leaked at least 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the Nushagak River, said a report from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

The captain of the 100-foot Devon reported around 1 a.m. that the vessel collided with a rock and damaged its fuel tank, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert.

Eggert did not know how many were on board the vessel, owned by Sam Barging. It had been towing a barge in the river and remained anchored outside Dillingham Wednesday evening, he said.

The Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game responded to the incident. Agencies said there have been no reports of impacted wildlife.

The owner plans to remove the vessel Thursday, according to the report.

Reach Tegan Hanlon at thanlon@adn.com or 257-4589.

By TEGAN HANLON

thanlon@adn.com

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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