Work barge goes aground in Beaufort Sea

Stricken vessel Stryker, working for Pioneer Natural Resources, buckles with stern touching bottom; light sheen seen in ice-free seas

Wesley Loy

For Petroleum News

A self-propelled barge working for Pioneer Natural Resources Co. in the Beaufort Sea partially sank Sept. 14, prompting a considerable effort to prevent a fuel spill and save the vessel.

The vessel, named the Stryker, experienced a “structural failure” while traveling between Pioneer’s Oooguruk oil production island and Oliktok Point to the east, the barge owner said. The area is about 40 miles west of Prudhoe Bay.

The vessel partially split, with the stern of the wheelhouse section drooping down and settling on bottom in 9 feet of water while the flatbed barge section at the bow remained afloat normally.

The barge belongs to Bowhead Transport Co., a subsidiary of Barrow-based Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. The Stryker was operating for Pioneer.

Based on photos of the scene, the Beaufort Sea appeared relatively calm, and was free of ice. Authorities said the temperature in the area was about 40 degrees.

The casualty occurred shortly before noon on Sept. 14. The vessel came to rest about three miles west of Oliktok Point. The barge appeared to be hauling a truck, some trailers and other gear.

All four crewmembers on the Stryker were able to get off the vessel safely, UIC said.

The barge was carrying at least 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel, and a light sheen was spotted in the water following the grounding. But responders sealed fuel valves on the barge and the sheen dissipated, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Bowhead, Pioneer, two Crowley Marine tugs and the North Slope spill response contractor Alaska Clean Seas responded to the mishap. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation also was involved.

“Alaska Clean Seas in conjunction with Pioneer has responded with two bay boats, ocean boom, skimmers and tank storage for recovered fluids,” UIC said. “The boom will be placed around the vessel and skimmers will be available to recover any fuel that may be released.”

Additional boom was staged for deployment if necessary to protect sensitive shoreline areas, the Coast Guard said.

The plan was to lighter the fuel off the stricken barge and then mount an effort to save the craft.

“The safety of our response crews and the environment are our top priorities as we continue the response and coordination to salvage the Stryker,” said Cmdr. Steven Pearson, chief of response for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage.