Unalaska, AK – On-scene personnel say the Cougar Ace car carrier could be righted by the end of this coming weekend.

Work is continuing on the 654-foot ship, which is moored in Wide Bay, near the mouth of the Dutch Harbor. As of Friday afternoon, salvage crews were making good progress on their first order of business, dewatering the one partially flooded car deck. After that, they'll start filling the ship's ballast tanks, which should eventually bring it upright. The ship is still listing at close to 60 degrees.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Mark DeVries, who oversees port of refuge issues for western Alaska, is on hand in Unalaska, monitoring work on the Cougar Ace. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is also keeping a close eye on the project. On-scene coordinator John Brown said that for now, his agency isn't too concerned about potential fallout from the project, but that that could change later in the process.

Brown said that responders in Dutch Harbor are prepared to put a boom around Wide Bay to contain an oil spill if one were to occur. He's also concerned about what could happen if the Cougar Ace lingers too long in Unalaska in its current condition. With a large surface area exposed to the wind, there is some risk that the ship could be blown up to the shore of Unalaska Island.

Another anchor has been added to hold the Cougar Ace in place, and the Coast Guard is keeping boat traffic out of a 500-yard safety zone around the vessel.