Efforts continue to salvage burned car carrier

The fire-damaged cargo ship Morning Midas, laden with electric and other vehicles, remains disabled in the North Pacific, with a difficult mission still ongoing to salvage the vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard posted this update Monday on X:

Yesterday, tug Garth Foss took over the tow of the Morning Midas (350 mi SW Adak) & is controlling vessel's movement, awaiting arrival of long-range towing vessel in about a week. No signs of smoke, flames, flooding, or pollution.

Tug Gretchen Dunlap previously responded to the scene.

Photos of the Morning Midas show the vessel scorched pretty much from bow to stern.

The fire was first reported on June 3 aboard the 600-foot ship.

Here's a news account on the gCaptain website.

Overboard death reported at Togiak

Here's the press release.

Factory trawler needs a tow in Bering Sea

A tug was dispatched from Dutch Harbor today to assist the factory trawler Alaska Victory, which was reported adrift due to a "mechanical failure," a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said.

The trawler, part of the Fishing Company of Alaska fleet, was located about 19 nautical miles west of Akutan.

It was drifting at only a knot to a knot and a half, and was not in any danger, said Coast Guard Petty Officer David Mosley.

The Coast Guard was notified of the situation shortly before noon.

A Magone Marine tug was on the way to retrieve the Alaska Victory, which is more than 200 feet long and has a crew of 48.

How big was that spill?

Crowley Maritime Corp. yesterday released a "worst case" estimate of diesel spilled from its Valdez-based tug Pathfinder: 6,410 gallons. The tug struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on Dec. 23. The captain and second mate have been relieved of duty as an investigation continues. DEC photo

Pathfinder arrives safely home

The tug Pathfinder moored in Valdez at 12:56 a.m. after a 10-hour, 20-mile tow through Prince William Sound, the U.S. Coast Guard reports. An investigation continues into why the tug, used to help manage oil tankers, hit Bligh Reef on Wednesday. USCG photo

Pathfinder limping back to port, captain relieved

Here's a few more update items on the Pathfinder, the tug that sustained major damage Wednesday after hitting Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound:

• The Pathfinder is expected to arrive in Valdez around 10 p.m. tonight, having been taken under tow at 2 p.m. off Busby Island, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said.

• About 36,000 gallons of mixed diesel and water were removed from the tug's damaged fuel tanks, the DEC said.

• At least six commercial fishing vessels helped with operations to skim what diesel managed to escape the tug, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

• Still no word from investigators or Crowley Maritime Corp., operator of the Pathfinder, on why the tug crew hit a navigational hazard as notorious as Bligh Reef.

• The tug's master and second mate have been relieved of duty pending further investigation, said Crowley, based in Jacksonville, Fla.