ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard says a crippled cargo ship carrying half a million gallons of fuel in now under tow in the Bering Sea toward a safe harbor.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Dana Warr says that sometime early Monday morning the 738-foot Golden Seas is expected to reach Dutch Harbor, 275 miles away. The 20 crew members aboard are uninjured.
He says the commercial towing vessel hooked onto the cargo ship Saturday night after they rendezvoused a few hours earlier about 45 miles north of Atka Island.
The cargo ship, with a full load of canola seed, suffered engine troubles in strong winds and rough seas Friday that caused it to drift toward Atka Island, raising concerns it could run aground.
Since then limited power was restored, which eased the grounding fears.
