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The US Coast Guard is monitoring the response to the grounding of the 83-foot wooden hulled fishing vessel Unimak that grounded near Chignik more than 140 miles southwest of Kodiak Island, Alaska, last Thursday, September 24, 2009.

There is reportedly approximately 800 gallons of marine diesel oil on board.

Magone Marine, of Dutch Harbor, has been hired by the owner to respond and has already begun work to remove the fuel and other materials from the vessel. They are currently on weather hold due to gale force winds and unsafe surf conditions in the area.

No sheen was reported to have been observed when photos were taken of the vessel on Sept. 25, 2009, but the response crew has seen light sheening in the area.

Personnel from Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak are investigating the cause of the grounding.