A tanker has suffered minor damage in a collision involving a tug in Alaska.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) said it is investigating the accident last week at Valdez involving the 400-dwt Ingot (built 2018) and American Petroleum Tankers' (APT) 47,000-dwt Florida (built 2013), which was dented.
No pollution or injuries were reported.
Alaska Public Radio Network cited USCG lieutenant Carlos Quintero as saying Ingot hit the tanker during a docking move.
“The Ingot made the routine approach on the tanker, which consists of having the bow of the tug lean and touch perpendicular against the hull of the tanker,” Quintero said.
It was during this process that Quintero said “it was reported that minor damage was sustained.”
Valdez terminal and pipeline operator Alyeska reported that after the two vessels made “a hard landing and metal-to-metal contact,” Florida ended up with a dent 20 inches long, six inches wide and three inches deep.
Alyeska has ruled out mechanical issues or vessel design as the cause.
The tanker was cleared to load after an inspection and has left the port.
