Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District

Date: August 5, 2008
Contact: Petty Officer Levi Read
Phone: (907) 463-2065
(907) 321-4516

Three Vessels Stuck in Arctic Ice, Coast Guard Responding

JUNEAU, Alaska -- The Coast Guard is responding to a report of three vessels stuck in Arctic ice approximately 60 miles west of Point Barrow, Alaska today.

The vessels Western Patriot, Riverton and Hudson Bay Explorer were traveling east when they became stuck in the ice. The Coast Guard has diverted the Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy to open the ice around the ships allowing for better passage.

The Healy is approximately 400 miles from the vessels. The Coast Guard has also launched a C-130 from Coast Guard Forward Operating  Location Nome that will flyover the vessels to assess the situation. Additionally two rescue helicopters from the Coast Guard Forward Operating Location Barrow are on standby.

The tugs are reportedly heading toward Canada and it is not known how many people are aboard the vessels.

No injuries have been reported.

Photos and video may be available later.

Coast Guard file photo:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=294652  

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