執行氣候變遷救援任務 美軍船隻阿拉斯加觸礁漏油 | 環境資訊中心
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執行氣候變遷救援任務 美軍船隻阿拉斯加觸礁漏油

2012年06月19日
摘譯自2012年6月10日ENS阿拉斯加報導;沈瑞筠編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美軍蒙特雷號擱淺在Chiniak灣,四周環以攔油索避免漏油汙染擴大。圖片來自:美國海岸防衛隊。6月8日晚上,一艘美軍救援登陸船在阿拉斯加Chiniak灣科迪亞克(Kodiak)島南方觸礁,根據美國海岸防衛隊表示,為了不讓船隻沈沒,174尺長的蒙特雷號(Monterrey)故意擱淺在海雀島(Puffin Island),9日起開始漏出燃油。

海岸防衛隊估計超過15,290加侖(485桶)柴油從蒙特雷號的兩個儲油槽漏出注入Chiniak灣。蒙特雷號是隸屬基地設在加州瓦列霍(Vallejo)的481運輸公司(481st Transportation Company)的登陸艇。

蒙特雷號原訂由加州胡內米行駛到阿拉斯加伯特利,載運重裝備及補給支援美國海軍陸戰隊,他們正在執行的任務為遷移因氣候暖化永凍層溶解而受影響的阿拉斯加原住民村落。

海岸防衛隊協同陸軍後備隊、阿拉斯加環境保護部、非營利漏油清除組織阿拉斯加Chadux法人( Alaska Chadux Corporation)、及其他相關者共同投入漏油清除工作。

據報蒙特雷號載有40000加侖(1,269桶)燃料,漏油清除小組正尋求海面除油船去除海面漏油的可行性。

蒙特雷號已由兩條攔油索環繞來防止油污溢出,第三條攔油索將會放置在環境敏感區Buskin河口。

Buskin河是科迪亞克島魚貨量最高的地方之一,來自全球各地的遊客到這釣紅鮭與銀鮭,及觀賞棕熊、白尾海鵰、丑鴨及斑海豹。

科迪亞克海洋事業安全發展監督人Matthew Zinn上尉表示:「目前軍艦上的船員是安全的,我們的首要任務是將漏油的影響降低。環境管理是海岸防衛隊的法定使命,保護原始的阿拉斯加海岸對我們非常重要。」

6月8日晚上10點16分,蒙特雷號於Chiniak灣觸礁開始進水,海岸防衛隊收到船員的求救訊號。

10點44分科迪亞克海岸防衛隊出動一架直昇機及組員到現場,直昇機上載有排水及救援設備。

兩艘漁船也回應了求救訊號前來協助。其中一艘運送了兩名輕傷的船員到科迪亞克的急救站。

融化的永凍層造成Newtok的木板道淹沒在水中。

陸軍後備隊媒體關係官員Annmarie Daneker少校表示:「美國陸軍後備隊非常感謝海岸防衛隊及其他伸出援手的人的迅速回應,這些人確保了我們士兵的的安全與健康。船員的安全及保護當地環境是我們的首要任務,在清理及打撈期間我們將全力配合海岸防衛隊。」

海岸防衛隊表示,蒙特雷號觸礁事件現在正進行調查。

永凍層融化造成Newtok的木板道淹沒在水中。圖片來自:Alaska Climate Change Impact Mitigation Program。陸軍後備隊表示,蒙特雷號上裝載的設備預定用於聯邦計畫,預定遷移Newtok的村莊到9英哩外的Mertarvik。Newtok的永凍層正因阿拉斯加的氣候變化而崩解融化導致村莊不適合居住。

Newtok是個僅有400人口的愛斯基摩尤皮克(Yupik)村莊,位於阿拉斯加西岸的Ninglick河上,離最近的道路400英哩。

阿拉斯加的氣候暖化速度約比美國其他地方快兩倍,超過200個原住民村莊遭受氣候變遷相關問題(包含土壤侵蝕、水災、風暴大潮、永凍層溶解)所擾,至少12個村莊選擇遷村。

U.S. Army Ship on Climate Rescue Mission Spills Diesel in Alaska
KODIAK, Alaska, June 10, 2012 (ENS)

A U.S. Army Reserve landing craft hit a submerged rock south of Kodiak Island in Chiniak Bay on Friday night.

To keep the vessel from sinking, the crew of the 174-foot Monterrey deliberately beached the vessel on Puffin Island, where it leaked diesel fuel Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard estimates more than 15,290 gallons (485 barrels) of diesel spilled into Chiniak Bay from two breached fuel compartments aboard the Monterrey, a landing craft with the 481st Transportation Company based in Vallejo, California.

The Monterrey was transportating heavy construction equipment and supplies from Port Hueneme, California, to Bethel, Alaska in support of a U.S. Marine Corps. mission to move a native Alaskan village that is sinking due to climate warming of its permafrost foundation.

Coast Guard personnel are coordinating with the Army Reserve, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the not-for-profit oil spill response organization Alaska Chadux Corporation, and other stakeholders in response to the spill.

The Monterrey was reportedly carrying up to 40,000 gallons (1,269 barrels) of fuel on board. Response teams are exploring the possibility of bringing in skimming vessels to clear surface fuel.

Two booms have been put in place around the Monterrey to contain the spilled fuel, and a third boom is being placed at the mouth of the Buskin River, an environmentally sensitive area.

The Buskin River is one of the most productive fisheries on Kodiak Island. Visitors from around the world visit the river to fish for sockeye and coho salmon and watch brown bears, eagles, harlequin ducks, and harbor seals.

"Now that the crew of the Army vessel is safe, our number one priority is to limit the impact of the leaked fuel," said Lt. Matthew Zinn, supervisor of Marine Safety Unit MSD Kodiak. "Environmental stewardship is a statutory mission for the Coast Guard, and protecting the pristine Alaskan coast is very important to us."

Coast Guard personnel responded to a mayday call from the crew of the Monterrey after they struck an object and began taking on water in Chiniak Bay at 10:16 pm on Friday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak helicopter crew launched at 10:44 pm, carrying dewatering and rescue equipment to the scene.

Good Samaritans aboard two fishing vessels also responded to assist. One of these vessels transported two crewmembers with minor injuries from the Monterrey to emergency medical services in Kodiak.

"The U.S. Army Reserve is grateful for the prompt response of the Coast Guard and the many good Samaritans who ensured the safety and health of our soldiers," said Major Annmarie Daneker, Army Reserve media relations officer. "The safety of the crew and the protection of the local environment is our top priority and we will cooperate fully with the Coast Guard during the cleanup and salvage efforts."

The circumstances of the Monterrey's collision are under investigation, according to the Coast Guard.

According to the Army Reserve, the construction equipment aboard the Monterrey was intended for use on a federal project to move the villagers of Newtok to Mertarvik, about nine miles away. The permafrost foundation under Newtok is crumbling, melting and eroding as Alaska's climate heats up, making the village uninhabitable.

Newtok, a Yupik village of about 400 people, lies on the Ninglick River near Alaska's west coast, 400 miles from the nearest road.

Alaska's climate is warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the United States. More than 200 Native Alaskan villages have problems with climate change-related impacts such as erosion, flooding, storm surge, and thawing permafrost. At least 12 villages have decided to explore relocation.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS報導

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.