Story Created: Dec 24, 2009 at 4:04 PM AKST
Story Updated: Dec 24, 2009 at 4:04 PM AKST
Cleanup has begun after a 136-foot tug doing an ice survey in Prince William Sound grounded on Bligh Reef - the same reef that played a big part in the Exxon Valdez oil tanker disaster in 1989.
The tug's fuel tanks contain an estimated 33,500 gallons, and some amount of that fuel has been spilled but the amount is not yet known.
The Coast Guard says the tugboat's crew deployed 200-feet of fuel containment booms around the vessel after clearing the reef and continuing to deeper waters Wednesday evening.
The Coast Guard says a fuel sheen has been observed that is about 3 miles long and 30 yards wide that drifted away from the vessel. There is no sheen visible around the tug.
The Coast Guard says an oil response vessel has arrived and is skimming the water near the diesel sheen.
