On December 3, 2010, the 738-foot long MV Golden Seas, carrying a cargo of Canola seed and with an estimated 450,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil, 11,700 gallons of diesel, and 10,000 gallons of lube oil on board, became disabled in the Bering Sea while underway from Vancouver, Canada to the United Arab Emirates.
With seas upwards to 20-feet, the AHTS Tor Viking II was sent to rescue the bulk carrier and tow it to safety back in Dutch Harbor. To get to the carrier in time, the crew of the 18,000 horsepower Tor Viking II, equipped with four Mak M32 6 cylinder engines, had to push limits the ship’s equipment (and themselves) to the max.
Above is the story of the rescue as told by the then-Chief Officer of Tor Viking II, Captain Daniel Arnesson..
INCIDENT PHOTOS:
The tug Tor Viking II races to disabled 738-foot cargo vessel Golden Seas in the Bering Sea December 4, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard PhotoTor Viking II rendezvous with the Golden Seas at about 4:30 p.m., Dec. 4, 2012, approximately 40 miles north of Atka Island, AK. U.S. Coast Guard PhotoU.S. Coast Guard PhotoAt about 8:30 p.m. on December 4, the crew of the Tor Viking II was able to establish the tow line and began towing the Golden Seas to Dutch Harbor. U.S. Coast Guard PhotoU.S. Coast Guard PhotoThe bulk carrier Golden Seas is towed into anchoring position in Broad Bay, near Dutch Harbor, Dec. 7, 2010, following a more than 500 mile tow along the Aleutian Islands. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
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