SGOP99 PAJK 111858

FROM:	NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE
	JUNEAU ALASKA - WCM CHRIS MAIER

SUBJECT:  MAJOR MEDIA EVENT - MARINE MISHAP 

EVENT:  THE 235 FOOT LONG ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM FERRY, M/V
LECONTE, RAN HARD AGROUND ON MONDAY APRIL 10 AT 1755 UTC (0955
ADT).  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED A FEW HOURS BEFORE LOW TIDE.  AS THE
TIDE ROSE IN THE AFTERNOON, THE VESSEL BECAME UNSTABLE AND ALL 83
PASSENGERS AND 23 CREW MEMBERS WERE EVACUATED.  A MAJOR
INTERAGENCY RECOVERY OPERATION IS UNDERWAY.  THOUGH IT IS NOT
LEAKING FUEL, EACH HIGH TIDE THREATENS TO SINK THE VESSEL.  IF IT
SINKS IT WOULD CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY.  THE VESSEL
CARRIED 23,604 GALLONS OF FUEL NOT COUNTING OIL, SEWAGE AND SOLID
WASTE.  THERE WERE ALSO 15 VEHICLES ON BOARD.  THE M/V LECONTE 
IS VALUED AT BETWEEN $30-35 MILLION.    

LOCATION:  ON COZIAN REEF IN PERIL STRAIT ABOUT 25 NM MILES NORTH
OF SITKA, ALASKA.  FERRY WAS ENROUTE FROM ANGOON, ALASKA TO
SITKA.

OFFICES:  WFO JUNEAU

DEATHS:  NONE

INJURIES:  THREE MINOR, ALL ARE IN STABLE CONDITION

DAMAGE:  THERE IS A 30 FOOT LONG BY ONE FOOT WIDE GASH IN THE
HULL OF THE VESSEL.          

WEATHER:  ATMOSPHERE WAS STABLE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE. 
MARINE LAYER HAD ADVECTED INTO THE REGION EARLIER THAT MORNING
WITH BROKEN TO OVERCAST SKIES AROUND 3000 FEET AGL, BUT NO FOG
NOR PRECIPITATION.  USCG REPORTED LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS AND
CALM SEAS AT THE SCENE.  HERE ARE THE NEAREST AUTOMATED
OBSERVATIONS (SITKA AND HOONAH, ALASKA) AT THE TIME OF THE
INCIDENT:

METAR PASI 101753Z 29005KT 10SM OVC031 09/07 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP235
T00890072 10089 20067 53003

METAR PAOH 101756Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC028 09/06 A3023 RMK AO2
TSNO 53004 T00940061 10094 20016 SLP239 $

WATCH:  NONE

WARNING:  NONE

VALID MARINE FORECAST:  
FZAK51 PAJK 101219
CWFAJK

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU ALASKA
400 AM ADT MON MAY 10 2004

SOUTHEAST ALASKA INSIDE WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO SKAGWAY

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ098-110200-
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA INNER CHANNELS COASTAL WATERS...
A BROAD AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION FROM
THE GULF OF ALASKA MONDAY AND WILL PERSIST THROUGH THURSDAY.
THIS HIGH WILL COMBINE WITH AN INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH
EXTENDING FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST TO SOUTHERN SOUTHEAST
ALASKA TO PRODUCE A DRYING NORTH TO NORTHEAST FLOW OVER THE
EASTERN GULF COAST AND SOUTHEAST ALASKA THROUGH THURSDAY. AS
THE INVERTED TROUGH WEAKENS FRI...A MOIST WEST ONSHORE FLOW
WILL DEVELOP OVER THE REGION FRI AND WILL PERSIST THROUGH
SUNDAY. 
$$

PKZ032-110200-
CHATHAM STRAIT NORTH OF POINT GARDNER-
400 AM ADT MON MAY 10 2004

.TODAY...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  
.TUE NIGHT...S WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT OR LESS. 
.WED...S WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.THU THROUGH FRI...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  
$$

SERVICE:  THE RECOVERY OPERATIONS ARE BEING RUN BY AN UNIFIED
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM (IMT).  AGENCIES INVOLVED AT PRESENT ARE
THE USCG, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (AMHS), AND NOAA. 
THE WFO JUNEAU IS PROVIDING WEATHER BRIEFINGS (BY PHONE) AND SITE
SPECIFIC FORECASTS UPON THE REQUEST OF THE IMT.  AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF FAIR WEATHER (UNUSUAL FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA) WILL
RECOVERY OPERATIONS INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.          

RADARS:  N/A

SATELLITE:  N/A

USER RESPONSE:  NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

MAIER MAY 04

$$