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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

 

"Laying Down On The Job"

On The Scene - In The North Pacific !

M/V Cougar Ace

Japan for Vancouver B.C., Canada

Feature Date: August, 2006

Event Date: July 23, 2006 & Continuing

Countryman & McDaniel

 The Air & Ocean Logistics- Customs Broker Attorneys

International Trade Consultants

"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene -- In The North Pacific !

 A 2006 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

THIS IS PAGE 1 of 3 -- Feature Updates - The Story Now Ended

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 3 Pages:

Page 1 M/V Cargo Ace - July 23 to August 13 2006 - Below - M/V Cougar Ace At Extreme Risk
Go Directly To The Feature on this page

Page 2 M/V Cougar Ace - August 14 To Augut 31 -The Lady Is Saved - So Far! The Rename To "M/V Martin Johnson" Is A World Movement!

Your Comments Are Desperately Needed

Movement To Rename M/V Cougar Ace - Aug. 31 2006 - Mazda Photos -- We All Need YOUR Help

Marty's Brother In Law Speaks Out - Aug. 24

Marty's Sister Speaks Out - Aug. 27

The Lady Is Coming To Port! - Aug. 28

The Family Memorial

Page 3 M/V Cougar Ace - Sept. 1 To Present -M/V Cougar Ace - Sept. 1 To Present - End of The Mazdas & The Final Tribute To Martry Johnson -- The "Marty J"

Oct. 30 2007 - A Continuing Tribute To Marty

FEATURE IS CURRENT TO Nov. 18, 2006

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"Laying Down On The Job"

On The Scene

In The North Pacific

M/V Cougar Ace At Extreme Risk !

BREAKING NEWS Since July 23 2006

Proving Again That: "Ship Happens©"

  

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: July 23 2006

The Place: North Pacific

The Function: Deliver Mazda Autos To U.S. West Coast

M/V Cougar Ace In Better Days

Built - 1993

Operator - Misui O.S.K.

Owner - Misui O.S.K.

Flag: Singapore

Type of Vessel - Pure Car Carrier

Seafarers: 23 in total: 2 Singaporeans, 8 Myanmars, 13 Filipinos

Length: 654 ft.

Gross Weight - 18,922gt.

Cargo Gear -Gearless

Cargo Aboard At Time of Incident: 4,813 automobiles

60% of the cars are Mazda3s & 30% are CX-7 SUVs.

Call Sign: 9VKE. BRT-55328.

M/V Cougar Ace -- The Crew Is Rescued
 

The Cargo Letter For July 24 2006 - 23 Trapped Crew!

ALERT>> 23 Crew & US$91M of Cars In Jeopardy>> 654ft. Singapore-flagged Mitsui O.S.K Lines car carrier M/V Cougar Ace, Japan for Vancouver B.C., Canada with 4,813 automobiles & 22 crew -- sent SOS late July 23 -- suffered 85 degree list (press says 90 degrees, but that is hard to do) in N. Pacific, 230 miles S. of the Aleutian Islands. One crew has broken leg, but no other reported injuries at this time -- crew wearing survival suits. Vessel taking water. 378ft. U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)<< Webfeature, from Hawaii is in Alaska waters & beating to scene. U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, two U.S. Army Pave Hawk helicopters, two refueling planes and a U.S. Air Force C-130 plane arrived from a U.S. Air National Guard base in Anchorage -- helicopters hoisted stranded all 23 crew members to safety. Dramatic Rescue! Bravo Zulu! Heavy seas. Things do not look good. (Mon. July 24 2006)
Taken Uniformly Around The World,

If There Is A Vessel In Distress,

The Statistical Chances Are That Rescue,

Will Come - From One Agency ,

More Any Other -- The U.S. Coast Guard

The Cargo Letter

M/V Cargo Ace Laying Down On The Job

US$91,000,000 Worth of Mazda Automobiles Now "Piled" Along The Port Side.

The Cargo Letter For July 25 2006 -
Current situation of M/V Cougar Ace still lying on her portside about 85-90 deg. for the last 4 hrs. Cannot contact w/ the Capt. probably due to battery failure. The keel and the propeller are out of the water. She is stable, and does not appear to be sinking. M/V Cougar Ace maintains its position 240 miles south of Adak.

Weather Condition - Wind - WSW / 5 Overcast / with fog in patches Swell SW 3-4 Mtrs.

Barometer 1004

Temp. (air) 11 deg. C (dry) / 10 deg. C

Sea water temp. 10 deg. C.

Visibility - 3 NM and deteriorating

Position: (M/V Cougar Ace) Lat. 48-11.6N, Long. 173-56.0W

The Cargo Letter For July 26 2006 -

Mishap for M/V Cougar Ace appears to have been caused by insufficient stability within the vessel, not by a collision or outside flooding.
"There clearly was imbalance in the intake of ballast water. The company investigation ultimately will tell us what caused that imbalance," said said Greg Beuerman, a spokesman for Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which owns the 654-foot car carrier.

Still unknown is the fate of the nearly 5,000 cars - mostly Mazdas - secured in compartments with heavy chains inside the vessel, headed from Japan to Canadian and U.S. ports. Watertight compartments and doors in the ship could be helping it stay afloat.

U.S. Coast Guard officials said cutter USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)<< Webfeature, will remain at the remote site until a salvage tow arrives next week to retrieve the Singapore-flagged ship. The ship had been carrying 430 metric tons of fuel oil or 112 metric tons of diesel fuel, but only a light sheen has been detected around the ship, said Petty Officer Jesami Statesir.

U.S. Coast Guard & Alaska Air National Guard helicopters rescued the 23 crew, July 24 night, 24 hours after the ship listed sharply in the space of 10 minutes. The crew was in AnchorageJuly 25, being interviewed by company officials, insurance agents and attorneys.

Capt. of M/V Cougar Ace told officials the vessel began to list when the crew was changing the water level in the ballast tank, which regulates the ship's weight & balance.

U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring the ship but is not taking an enforcement role because the ship ran into trouble in international waters.

The Cargo Letter For Thurs., July 27 2006 - STILL AFLOAT!

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines officials have contracted salvage company Crowley Marine. Titan Maritime LLC, a unit of Crowley (the compnay which salvaged M/V APL Panama<< Webfeature), will assist in towing M/V Cougar Ace to an appropriate port. Titan's tug M/V Sea Victory (tug which assisted with 1999 disaster of M/V New Carissa<< Webfeature) departed Seattle on Jul 25 at 9:40 p.m. -- projected to arrive at M/V Cougar Ace location on Aug. 2. By the way -- all the automobiles are from Mazda. According to Mazda, 60% of the cars aboard are Mazda3s, and 30% are CX-7 SUVs.

Editor Note: While this incident is obviously the result of either oversight or mechanical defect, we point out the opportunity for mischief -- should hostile forces decide to disable a vessel using fluid imbalance as a weapon. The intentional capsizinzing of a vessel could have drastic consequences, under the right circumstances.

McD
 Do You Notice That the keel of M/V Cargo Ace is entirely out of the water - yet she floats?

Don't try this at home!

Truly Ship Happens©

The Cargo Letter For Fri., July 28 2006 - STILL AFLOAT!

M/V Cougar Ace has now crossed into U.S. waters, drifting toward Alaska's Aleutian Islands - still listing as she floats in choppy seas 150 miles S. of Atka Island. U.S. Coast Guard, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have come together to establish a unified command to respond to the M/V Cougar Ace situation in Anchorage. They are monitoring. U.S. Coast Guard - Cutter departed Dutch Harbor late July 28 night after taking on fuel & stores. Salvage equipment was placed on board in Dutch Harbor. Vessel's homeport is Alameda, Calif. They were diverted from a previous mission in Alaska waters to respond to the drifting vessel -- will relieve the cutter USCG Rush.

USCGC Morgenthau On Station

The Cargo Letter For Mon., July 31 2006 - A Tragic Death Has Occurred - A Member of The Rescue Party - We Mourn

There has been a death in connection with the M/V Cougar Ace rescue mission. Today The Cargo Letter received a special notice issued by Foss Maritime which details the event. In the interest of accuracy, we print the entire special notice below. We have added only our calculation of the dates & highlighed the vessel names.
"TO: All Foss Employees:

RE: COUGAR ACE Rescue Mission

Some of you may have already heard the news, but we wanted to share some information about the rescue mission that Foss crews on the EMMA FOSS, DAVID FOSS and KAINANI are currently involved with in the Aleutian Islands, and a fatal accident that occurred there yesterday (July 30). Although it was not a Foss employee who died, in this small maritime community we are all affected in some way when one of us is harmed. We send out our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the man who was fatally injured.

Here are the details of the situation, and the accident that occurred:

Last Thursday (July 20), while on the return voyage from Sakhalin Island, the Foss tugs EMMA FOSS, DAVID FOSS and KAINANI were directed to Adak in the Aleutian Islands by the USCG (U.S. Coast Guard) to assist a car carrier named the COUGAR ACE that had rolled onto her side. The vessel suffered stability problems on Monday (July 24) approximately 235 miles south of Adak and her crew was evacuated.

The EMMA FOSS left her tow in the care of the KAINANI in Adak and arrived on scene at the COUGAR ACE mid morning on Saturday (July 28). Our crew immediately began working with the USCG Cutter MORGENTHAU to gather technical vessel information, digital photos and a condition assessment. Using her satellite telephone, the captain and crew of the EMMA FOSS provided the information back to the Salvage Master and the unified command at the incident command post.

Yesterday (July 30), a salvage response vessel, hired by the vessel owner, arrived on scene from Dutch Harbor and placed members of the owner's salvage team aboard the COUGAR ACE to determine the conditions inside the vessel. The salvage team did not include any Foss Maritime employees. Last night, while disembarking from the car carrier, following completion of the salvage assessment, a member of the salvage team fell and sustained a life-threatening injury. Despite prompt advanced medical treatmentadministered by members of the salvage team, crew of the EMMA FOSS and the USCG personnel aboard the MORGENTHAUthe injuries were too severe to save the life of the injured crew member. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation by USCG personnel on scene.

The EMMA FOSS will remain on scene and will continue to support the salvage efforts as directed and the operational plan for the next action is now being formulated by the unified command. As you know, "Safety of People" is our number one priority, and though our crews may be engaged in hazardous work, we will work hard to ensure that we do not put anyone at additional risk while we provide our services to this and other vessel customers."

Marty Johnson, a 40-year-old naval architect from Seattle, slipped & fell to his death after he unclipped his harness as he prepared to leave the ship.

One of the purposes of this Website is to educate the public as to the dangers faced by our maritime community at sea. Tonight there is another tragic example, as a member of the rescue party for M/V Cougar Ace has fallen. Should these new Mazda automobiles reach safe harbor -- they have already been paid for -- at a horrific price. Sadly, most of the prospective auto owners will never know.

Salvage personnel board the M/V Cougar Ace to assess the condition of the vessel on July 30 2006.

M/V Ema Foss Is On Station

 

M/V Cougar Ace Truly Laying Down On The Job

The Cargo Letter For Wed., Aug. 2 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District - Engineering Decisions Being Made For The Tow

Perhaps the best source of information for following any maritime disaster -- is the U.S. Coast Guard. Today we are publishing an edited version of the USCG Incident Report for Aug. 2, to give a broad picture of the M/V Cougar Ace situation:
USCG ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Unified Command of federal, state and shipping company representatives continues to make efforts to right M/V Cougar Ace and plan contingencies for towing to an appropriate port of refuge if those efforts are not effective. These efforts are in response to the vessel's July 24 listing in the North Pacific Ocean.    

With the arrival of a new naval architect and an additional team of salvage professionals at the scene late tonight, a 2nd, more extensive examination of the vessel will take place. Two pumps & other needed equipment were off-loaded from M/V Makushin Bay onto M/V Cougar Ace on Aug. 1 night for an intended rigging of pumps to begin Aug.2 afternoon. Another pump is still to be placed on board. The pumps will be set up in series to allow them to function more effectively. Plans call for the pumping of water from the Number 9 cargo deck which is at the waterline, to the Number 5 starboard ballast tank to help improve the ballast condition and further stabilize the ship.  

Several ports in Alaska are under consideration as a destination for M/V Cougar Ace which remains stabilized approximately 106 miles south of Herbert Island. The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Morgenthau>>Webfeature, remains on-scene as well as tug M/V Sea Victory which arrived at the site from Seattle on Aug. 1 and has replaced tug M/V Emma Foss in holding a tow line rigged to M/V Cougar Ace.   

An additional private vessel, tug M/V Gladiator, has left Anacortes, Wash., and is en route to assist with transporting M/V Cougar Ace if needed. The vessel has similar capabilities to M/V Sea Victory. According to Incident Commander Capt. Mark DeVries of the United States Coast Guard, a decision on where & how to tow the ship could still be days away. Depending on several factors including weather, the determined condition of the ship, success of at-sea salvage operations and the port selected, transit time for M/V Cougar Ace to the chosen port could be 5-6 days or more.  

Weather on-site is expected to deteriorate today, with SE winds at 5 knots becoming SW at 15-30 knots by noon & shifting north to northwest late. Seas are at one foot with 3 foot swells. The seas will increase slightly with higher winds. It is overcast with visibility reduced to one nautical mile currently. However, the Unified Command does not expect that these conditions will slow the project or create special concerns relative to the condition of the vessel. Weather conditions are expected to improve Aug. 3.

The Unified Command consists of representatives of the United States Coast Guard, NOAA, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Titan Salvage and Polaris Applied Sciences.  

This is a delicate situation. With automobiles gathered to port, flooding tanks to starboard might help right the vessel -- if that is possible -- but it surely would increase the overall weight of the vessel and lower her profile in the water -- increasing the risk of sinking. This is about as far we can go on the science -- the acutual challenges of this salvage are just HUGE. Right now the challenge is to just rig the vessel for tow. We hold our breath.

The Cargo Letter For Thurs., Aug. 3 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District

The Unified Command is considering 3 primary options for the vessel.

    *Towing the vessel to a port of refuge & righting her in port.

    *Righting the vessel on scene and then towing the vessel to a port for further assessment and repair.

    *Partially righting the vessel to improve the condition for towing her to a port of refuge for righting.

One of the major factors being considered is the extreme angle of the vessel and the difficulty for crews to work on board. The angle also affects what equipment might be needed to effectively right and tow M/V Cougar Ace. A final decision is dependent on several variables including weather, approved ports, stability, safety and expected degree of success. Port assessments continue.

A scientific team including the Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, NOAA, Polaris Applied Sciences, Alaska Dept.of Natural Resources and Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game is part of the incident command structure in Anchorage and is keeping the Unified Command apprised of the natural resources and environmental issues in the port areas being considered.

Additional salvage & dive personnel are en route to assist as needed and conduct more survey work to determine the best options for righting and moving M/V Cougar Ace. An analysis of the vessel's fuel & ballast tanks has been undertaken to determine what weights would need to be shifted to right M/V Cougar Ace.

In addition, water transfer pumps & associated equipment were air-lifted to M/V Cougar Ace in preparation of pumping water from car deck #9 to the #5 starboard ballast tank. Additional pumps and equipment transferred to M/V Cougar Ace today. It is estimated that it will take 2 days to line up all the pumping & safety equipment to overcome a 100' pumping head pressure where access can be gained to the #5 ballast tank.

The Cargo Letter For Friday., Aug. 4 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District

In our opinon -- the best reports continue from the U.S. Coast Guard - which we modify for only for matters of form.
Unified Command Press Release 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The car carrier M/V Cougar Ace continued its movement to the north throughout Aug. 3, making its way toward the Bering Sea to reduce the impact of swells that the ship had been consistently encountering in the North Pacific Ocean, south of the Aleutian Islands chain.  As of 10 a.m. Aug. 4, the ship was approximately 30 NM south of Samalga Pass. 

Ocean swells, ranging from 6 to 12 feet pose no threat to M/V Cougar Ace's stability but have hampered efforts to install pumps needed to make the initial transfer of water which will help improve the list of the ship. 

Weather conditions are reported as SW winds at 20 knots. Seas are 2 feet with swells to three feet. The sky is overcast but visibility remains at 8 miles. 

Crews are working currently to rig a 2nd towline from the tug M/V Sea Victory to M/V Cougar Ace to improve safety and be more effective in the changing sea conditions. That process is expected to take the better part of the day. Once the new towline is secured crews will wait for the next flood tide through Samalga Pass>>Webfeature, to transit to the Bering Sea. M/V Sea Victory has two independent towing systems. The 2nd towline is a precautionary measure for the transit through the pass. This is akin to flying a two engine airplane. If one airplane engine fails the second will keep the aircraft airborne. 

As M/V Cougar Ace moved northward on Aug. 3, salvage team members were able to continue work to prepare to shift the liquid load of water to right the ship. 

After exiting Samalga Pass the tow master and the Unified Command will continue to assess the condition of the vessel, the tow and the weather as they progress on an easterly track along the Aleutian Islands. Officials stress that adequate maritime assets will remain with M/V Cougar Ace to monitor and control the vessel and to ensure the protection of all marine resources in the area. The U.S Coast Guard cutters USCGC Morgenthau>>Webfeature, & USCGC Sycamore>>Webfeature, remain on-scene in addition to tugs M/V Sea Victory and M/V Emma Foss and the utility vessels M/V Redeemer and M/V Makushin Bay.  A 3rd tug, M/V Gladiator, is due to arrive alongside M/V Cougar Ace on Aug. 6 morning. 

Unified Command members are evaluating whether or not to tow the ship to a nearby protected harbor. The decision will not be made until additional surveys of theship have been made and the salvage team has completed its initial attempt to right the vessel at sea. 

Members of the Unified Command include the United States Coast Guard, NOAA, Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, Titan Maritime Salvage and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., owners of M/V Cougar Ace

M/V Cougar Ace Trajectory Analysis for 1 & 5 August 2006

M/V Cougar Ace Bow On

The Cargo Letter For Sun., Aug. 6 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District

M/V Cougar Ace Moves Inside Bering Sea To Smooth Righting Process -
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Officials of the Unified Command have directed the movement of the car carrier M/V Cougar Ace through Samalga Pass in the Aleutian Island chain to calmer waters north of Unalaska Island where efforts to right the 654-foot ship will continue.

By Aug. 5 evening local time, the ship had cleared the northern end of the pass and was making its way in a northeasterly direction staying well distant from sensitive marine life and waterfowl resources in the area. The Unified Command determined on Thursday, August 3 that the process of reducing the ship's 60 degree list could be expedited and carried out more safely inside the Bering Sea instead of the North Pacific Ocean where sea swells have been more unpredictable over the past several days.

As of 10 a.m. Aug. 6 the ship was located approximately 10 miles northwest of Umnak Island. Seas are calm and visibility is reported as good on-scene.

M/V Cougar Ace has been listing since problems arose during a required open-sea transfer of ballast water on July 23, approximately 230 miles south of Adak.

Incident Commander Capt. Mark DeVries of the United States Coast Guard reports that the ship's salvage team will continue efforts to rig pumps on-board the ship that will dewater the vessel's number nine cargo deck and adjust the ship's ballast condition to right the ship and restore its upright stable condition.

Where the ship will travel following the offshore salvage work has yet to be determined and will depend on the success of water pumping efforts as well as other factors including weather and sea conditions.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo Shows Rescue of M/V Cougar Ace Crew

Standing Along Upturned Starboard Side of M/V Cougar Ace - Just Aft of Bridge.

Think of This Photo Today When Using Your Toaster, DVD, Hair Dryer, Calculator, Or Automobile. You May Not Have Paid Full Price For These Goods.

Delivering Products To Us Is A Dangerous Business - Which We Take For Granted.


The Cargo Letter For Mon., Aug. 7 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District
Salvage Team Set To Initiate Pumping On M/V Cougar Ace
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Plans to right the carrier M/V Cougar Ace continue with salvage teams set to begin the process of dewatering the ship's number nine cargo deck with the use of pneumatic or air compression pumps beginning around noon today, Aug. 7. The Unified Command which is managing the vessel response believes that this initial process, followed by an additional transfer of sea water into the vessel's starboard tanks will largely right the vessel and allow it to be towed to a deep water port for further investigation.

Salvage team members on-board the 654-foot ship, which listed to approximately 60 degrees following problems that arose during a ballast water transfer on July 23, plan to dewater the number 9 cargo deck and balance the ballast water during the next 30-40 hours.

Currently the vessel is holding position 13 miles northeast of Umnak Island in semi-protected waters. The Unified Command stresses that detailed precautions have been taken to protect area waters, fisheries and the local economy including the addition of another tug, the Gladiator, which arrived from Seattle this morning.

Weather on-scene continues to be favorable to the response with good visibility & calm seas. Winds are predicted to pick up Aug. 8, from the southwest at 20-25 knots bringing the seas up to 7 feet.

A decision on whether to move M/V Cougar Ace to port will be made following an evaluation of the success of the dewatering process.

Quite Truly -- "Ship Happens©"

"Semper Paratus" - Always Ready - Moto of The U.S. Coast Guard

Steam Or Possibly Carbon Dioxide Venting From The Fixed Fire Fighting System

Is Detected By The U.S. Coast Guard From The Stern of M/V Cougar Ace On July 30 2006

Official Ship's Newsletter of USCGC Morgenthau - Published At Sea, Aug. 2 2006 - Excerpt -
"You may have seen pictures of a large car carrier tilting precariously on its side on CNN or other news sources. The M/V Cougar Ace was traveling from Japan to Canada when it began to tilt precariously on its side. In a daring rescue the Coast Guard and Air Force were able to safely remove all 23 people from the vessel. We are currently on-scene to monitor and provide rescue assistance to the efforts to salvage the vessel as well as monitor any discharge of oil or any other possible source of pollution. It is an incredible, unbelievable sight to see a 650 foot ship floating on its side."
Ship's Newsletter of USCGC Morgenthau

From Our Senior Correspondant --

As of 10 a.m. Aug 7, M/V Cougar Ace was located approximately 10 miles NW of Umnak Island. Seas are calm and visibility is reported as good on-scene.

M/V Cougar Ace has been listing since problems arose during a required open-sea transfer of ballast water on July 23, 230 miles south of Adak.

Incident Commander Capt. Mark DeVries of the U.S. Coast Guard reports that the ship's salvage team will continue efforts to rig pumps on-board the ship that will dewater the vessel's number nine cargo deck and adjust the ship's ballast condition to right the ship and restore its upright stable condition.

Where M/V Cougar Ace will travel following the offshore salvage work has yet to be determined and will depend on the success of water pumping efforts as well as other factors including weather and sea conditions.

From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (Wed. Aug. 9 2006)

Kashega Barge with response equipment standing by M/V Cougar Ace at Wide Bay, Alaska

The Cargo Letter For Tues., Aug. 8 2006 - Report From The 17th U.S. Coast Guard District

Safety Concerns Change Cougar Ace List Correction Plans
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Unified Command, working to right the car carrierM/V Cougar Ace, has reported that sea swells on Aug. 7, forced the discontinuation of salvage team efforts. As a result M/V Cougar Ace will be brought to a mooring in Wide Bay, Unalaska Island. Sea and weather in Wide Bay should permit safe salvage operations. The mooring operations will take most of the afternoon.

Two towing configurations will be employed simultaneously to control M/V Cougar Ace as it is towed to Wide Bay. Crews will also use a double mooring on location there. The tugs will remain on scene and a barge loaded with pollution response gear will be stationed on site. The Unified Command is working with the mayor and city council of Dutch Harbor to keep the residents and stakeholder of the city apprised.

The salvage team began transferring water from the #9 cargo deck around 3 p.m. Aug. 7; however it soon became apparent that choppy seas in the area posed a risk to the safety of the team. The salvage vessel M/V Makushin Bay, which was being used as a staging area for the pneumatic pumps, was unable to remain close enough to M/V Cougar Ace without striking the ship and posing a threat to crews working on board the 654-foot ship. With safety of the salvage team and protection of the local environment as paramount concerns the Unified Command of federal and state agencies and the ship's operator, decided to suspend pumping by 6 p.m. and begin arranging for the vessel to be brought to a safe mooring in Wide Bay. Officials believe that the relocation of M/V Cougar Ace will allow the transfer of ballast water to be completed safely and quickly, allowing company officials and others to board the ship and more fully investigate the condition of the vessel.

Current weather on scene consists of 15 knot winds from the SW with seas around two feet. They have overcast skies & patchy fog though visibility remains at 8 miles.

Several vessels remain on-site to assist M/V Cougar Ace as needed and to protect the local environment and marine habitat including the Coast Guard cutters USCGC Morgenthau and USCGC Sycamore, M/V Redeemer and private tugs M/V Sea Victory and M/V Gladiator.

The Unified Command consists of the United States Coast Guard, O'Brien's Group, NOAA, Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, and vessel operator, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Vessel Positions As Of August 8 2006 (pdf file)

Current Towing Plan For M/V Cougar Ace (pdf file)

Most Recent Situation Report (pdf file)

Tug M/V Gladiator & M/V Cougar Ace in Wide Bay on Aug. 8 2006.

Truly Goliath & The Ant ... an amazing saga continues.

The Cargo Letter For Wed., Aug. 9 2006 - The Engineers Do Their Work -

M/V Cougar Ace is in repose at Wide Bay -- salvage plans go forward now that the vessel has safe haven. After all, it is a wide bay.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo Shows M/V Cougar Ace & M/V Makushin Bay at Wide Bay Anchor Mooring.

Waiting For The Planners.

The Cargo Letter For Thurs., Aug. 10 2006 - The Planning Is Implemented - Dewater The Vessel - State of Alaska Report .......

SITUATION REPORT: 1:30 PM Aug. 10, 2006. This and subsequent situation reports are being distributed to disseminate information on M/V Cougar Ace. status, incident management and

salvage plans for the vessel.

AMOUNT OF PRODUCT SPILLED: A small sheen of what appeared to be lubricating oil was stopped from the vessel's bow thruster area on Aug. 2, 2006. M/V Cougar Ace. is carrying a reported 142,184 gallons of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 380 and 34,182 gallons of Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) as estimated by the PRP. Former estimates did not account for fuel remaining in tanks prior to bunkering. The vessel is reported to be carrying approximately 4,813 vehicles as cargo.

LOCATION: The vessel location as of Aug. 10, 2006 is at Icicle Seafoods mooring bouy located in Wide Bay, Unalaska Bay at 53-57.2 N, 166.36.7 W.

CAUSE OF SPILL: The cause of sheen from the bow thruster area has not been determined. All efforts are being made to salvage the vessel prior to further incident.

RESPONSE ACTIONS: On Tues., Aug. 8, 2006, the attending tugs brought M/V Cougar Ace. to Wide Bay, Unalaska due to ballast water transfer safety concerns. The tugs assisted in securing M/V Cougar Ace. to two Icicle Seafood mooring bouys on the bow and stern sections. The attending vessels on scene supporting salvage and pollution response contingency operations are: the tugs M/V Gladiatior, M/V Sea Victory, M/V Makushin Bay, Kashega Barge, M/V Redeemer & USCGC Sycamore.

On Aug. 8, 2006 at 7 pm a public meeting with the Unalaska Mayor, residents & stakeholders was heldat the City Council office. The USCG FOSC led a presentation on the salvage operation to bring the vessel upright supported by the ADEC SOSC, Commanding Officer USCGC MORGENTHAU, Salvage and Engineering Response Team (SERT), USCG Strike Team, Titan Maritime LLC and Magone Marine Service Inc.

On Aug. 9, 2006 the command post was scaled down and moved to a board room at the Sheraton Hotel. Pumping operations by the salvage team were resumed to transfer cargo deck #9 water overboard. These salvage operations will be ongoing until the vessel is up righted in Wide Bay.

On Aug. 10, 2006 M/V Cougar Ace was reported to be at 57 degree list and securely moored at Icicle Seafood mooring bouys in Wide Bay. Salvors are attempting to rig discharge hoses closer to the waterline to decrease hydraulic head and increase pumping rate. The salvors were uncertain if the source of water on the cargo deck was ocean water or ballast tank overflow. To prevent the release of non-indigenous species into Unalaska Bay from water that may have been in the ballast tank, the water was treated with a bleach solution prior to discharge. Anchorage ICP will be demobilized today and UC has approved a transition plan for continued operations and stand by actions for the Cougar Ace incident. This plan includes the USCG Marine Safety Detachment, Salvage and Engineering Response Team (SERT) and Pacific Strike Team members remaining actively engaged in Dutch Harbor. The IMT will transition to standby mode. M/V Cougar Ace, through their ADEC approved Non-Tank Vessel Plan is prepared to deploy IMT and additional response personnel to Dutch Harbor in the event it is needed.

The State-On-Scene-Coordinator (SOSC), Federal-On-Scene-Coordinator (FOSC), USCG Engineering and Strike Team are in Dutch Harbor as part of the Unified Command's effort to work with the Mayor and City Council of Dutch Harbor. Public meetings will continue to be scheduled to keep the residents and stakeholder of the city updated and involved.

FUTURE PLANS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Continue to support the salvage team by providing salvage equipment in preparation of controlled dewatering of car deck number 9. Keep the residents & stakeholder of the city updated and involved with the Unified Command through scheduled community meetings.

WEATHER: Current weather on scene: 51 degree F, 2 nautical mile visibility, winds from east at 2 kts, seas calm. Aug. 11 weather: W winds 20 kts, seas 3 ft.

Most Recent U.S. Coast Guard Situation Report For Aug. 10 2006. (PDF 46K}

M/V Cargo Ace Current Position (PDF 485K)

Previous Situation Reports

Alaskan Land All Aound ...... But Not A Spot To Relieve M/V Cougar Ace.

The Relative Safety of Wide Bay Is An Illusion ....... As Thousands of Automobiles Dangerously Crowd The Port Side.

Green Forests Now Embrace M/V Cougar Ace ...... Yet She Is Not Yet Out of The Woods.

Dewatering Continues.

The Cargo Letter For Fri., Aug. 11 2006 - Dewatering Continues - U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Report .......

M/V Cougar Ace salvage continues -- Incident Command Post and Joint Information Center in Anchorage Are Disbanded --
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Aug. 11 -- The Unified Command, working to right the car carrier M/V Cougar Ace, traveled to Dutch Harbor Aug. 9, to oversee the mooring of M/V Cougar Ace and the continued salvage efforts. Swells on Aug. 7, forced the discontinuation of salvage team efforts and the relocation of M/V Cougar Ace to Wide Bay, Unalaska Island.

M/V Cougar Ace remains moored at the Icicle Seafood's Mooring Buoys in Wide Bay northwest of Dutch Harbor. The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Sycamore, M/V Makushin Bay, tug M/V Gladiator, tug M/V Sea Victory, and M/V Redeemer with Kashega Barge are on-scene supporting salvage and pollution response contingency operations. USCGC Sycamore is conducting an hourly securite broadcast notifying mariners that there is a .5 nautical mile security zone around the vessel.

The salvage team is continuing to remove water from the #9 cargo deck today. As of 5 p.m. Aug. 10, M/V Cougar Ace was listing at 58 degrees. No pollution or debris have been sighted in the discharged water. As the vessel is dewatered computer models are updated for the next stage of re-ballasting.

The Incident Command Post and Joint Information Center in Anchorage have been disbanded.

Most Recent Situation Report (added 8/10 PDF 46K)

From Our Reader -- For Fri., Aug. 11 2006 -

Was passing thru Dutch Harbor last week and took the attached picture of M/V Cougar Ace on the evening of Aug 11. Spoke with one of the salvors who said it was very stable and the grapevine had it that it would be rightened soon. We'll see. The cargo of Mazdas is said still to be intact, although hanging from straps that are stretched to the limit. Many jokes in Unalaska these days about beachcombing Mazdas.
Anonymous if you use any of this.

Quite Truly -- "Ship Happens©"

Expect Continuing News & New Photos -- We Will Keep You Posted. McD

Our sources to The Cargo Letter continue to report -- please join with your own information. Please Contribute


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Crew of M/V Cougar Ace and her families & to the heroic efforts of Mitsui O.S. K. Lines .... and to Foss & Titan

....and to The United Sates Coast Guard.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs brokerIt's dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR"Laying Down On The Job" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Sacrifice
In Memory of naval architect Fontain Martin Johnson III (Marty) who died saving M/V Cougar Ace off the coast of Alaska on July 30, 2006. He was 40 years old.
The Tribute To Marty

Movement To Rename M/V Cougar Ace - and our reader comments

ED NOTE>> For all those who worked at great personal risk -- and even gave a life to save M/V Cougar Ace, there could be no more fitting gesture than to rename this vessel -- M/V Marty Johnson. Without the work of Mr. Fontain "Marty" Johnson and his colleagues -- there would be no M/V Cougar Ace.

This tribute would speak for all those whose efforts saved the vessel -- and has been well earned by ultimate sacrifice. Your comments are needed. What do you think? Let us know today.

Crowley Corp. - American vessel operator & employer of Marty Johnson

The Vessel

Vessel Schematics for M/V Cougar Ace
Tank Capacity Plan (PDF 1.11MB)

General Arrangement (PDF 1.40MB)

The Carrier

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Mitsui O.S.K Car Carriers

World Car Carriers - from Tugspotters

The Owners

Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Co

Hansa Mare Reederei

The Salvors

Foss Maritime

Titan Maritime, LLC -- founded in 1980 by David Parrot - a worldwide salvage company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with offices in Newhaven, UK & Sao Paulo, Brazil and equipment depots in Batam, Indonesia & Dubai, UAE.

The U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC Morgenthau

USCGC Rush

USCGC Sycamore

USCGC Sycamore

The Geography

Wide Bay - Alaska

Our Other Great Car Carrier Advnture -- M/V Modern Drive - May 2001 - a truly amazing feature

Page 1 - USCGC Sherman Is The Lone Ranger

Page 2 - Auto-Matic Bargins -- the destroyed cargo

Page 3 - M/V Tracer To The Rescue

 

Take A Break - Our LAX Videdo - Home Theme! - this is where your Cargo Letter staff lives!

Samples of Other Our Ocean Contaier Related Features From The Cargo Letter

"Unstacked - Overboard With Dr. Beach" - Oct. 2004

"Columbia River Round Up" - June 2003

"Halifax Hash"--M/V Maersk Carolina - Jan. 2003

"Piñata" - breaking the box - Jan. 2003

"T-E-U Bar-Be-Cue" - aftermath of the Pennsylvania Loss - Nov. 2002

"Container Pool" - a mystery - May 2002

"Dropping In On The Trucker" -happened again - April 2002

"Meals: Ready To Explode" - Navy Barbeque at Guam June 2001

"M/V Ville D' Orion" - Bad L.A. Stack Disaster! April 2001 -- UPDATED - May 2002

"Pier Review" - Sept. 2001

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker.  It's dangerous out there -- because -- with predicability -- "Ship Happens©".
Thanks To Our Contributors For The
"Laying Down On The Job" Feature.

Our Contributors for this feature are:
Anonymous contributors*

U.S. Coast Guard - serving personnel

Scott D. Cosen

Bob Cross

Hilde Krause - Roanoke Trade Insurance Services, San Francisco

Frank Reilly

Tim Schwabedissen --Sr. Correspondent For The Cargo Letter

Bob Simpson

Vic Volzone

Capt. Sam Wadhwani

Christoph M. Wahner, Esq. - For The Cargo Letter

Lynn WelshJim Yee

...... And The Hundreds of Contributors Around The World Who Have Voted For M/V Martin Johnson

* Anonymous contributors who wish to be anonymous

THIS IS PAGE 1 of 3 -- Feature Updates - Go Directly To Today's Update

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 3 Pages:

Page 1 M/V Cargo Ace - July 23 to August 13 2006 - Above

Page 2 M/V Cougar Ace - August 14 To Augut 31 -The Lady Is Saved - So Far! The Rename To "M/V Martin Johnson" It Is A World Movement!

Your Comments Are Desperately Needed
Marty's Brother In Law Speaks Out - Aug. 24

Marty's Sister Speaks Out - Aug. 27

The Lady Is Coming To Port! - Aug. 28

The Family Memorial

Page 3 M/V Cougar Ace - Sept. 1 To Present -M/V Cougar Ace - Sept. 1 To Present - End of The Mazdas & The Final Tribute To Martry Johnson -- The "Marty J"

Oct. 30 2007 - A Continuing Tribute To Marty


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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