Oil Spill | Unalaska, Alaska | December 8, 2004

What Happened?

While traveling through the Aleutian Islands, the M/V Selendang Ayu experienced engine trouble. On December 8, 2004, the vessel grounded in rough seas off Unalaska Island, Alaska and broke in half. The rupture resulted in the release of about 350,000 gallons of oil and diesel, as well as 132 million pounds of soybeans.

What Were the Impacts?

Resource impacts from the spill included the following:

• Shoreline–approximately 86 miles of subtidal and intertidal beach, rocky shore, and vegetated shoreline habitats were oiled
• Birds–1,795 oiled bird carcasses were collected and oiling on live oiled birds was observed; total bird deaths have not yet been determined
• Marine mammals–At least two sea otters were determined to have died because of exposure to oil. Oiled live harbor seals were observed. The full extent of dead sea otters and impacts to other marine mammals have not yet been determined
• Human uses–oil contaminated fishing grounds and subsistence use areas. The State temporarily closed all fisheries in the Makushin/Skan Bay area. The spill and response activities impacted subsistence and recreational use of resources

What’s Happening Now?

NOAA worked with the co-Trustees to develop a draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (DARP/EA) for marine resources (shoreline habitats). The draft DARP/EA was available for public comment from September 4, 2024 to October 3, 2024, 2024. The Trustees will consider all public input and develop a final DARP/EA for marine resources. Injury assessment and restoration planning for marine mammals, birds, and human uses of natural resources is ongoing and a separate restoration plan will be developed to address those injuries.