The crew of the tug Aries was successfully rescued near Saint Paul yesterday, after the 68-foot vessel sank for reasons still unknown. The tug was pulling a barge full of construction equipment, and the crew managed to evacuate to the barge before being rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter.

The Aries was about 100 miles from Saint Paul when it started taking on water in the early morning, and a mayday call was made at 6:11 am. The F/V Alaskan Knight responded to a radio call for assistance, along with two Coast Guard helicopters. The Coast Guard icebreaker Healy, which is currently bound for the Arctic as part of NASA’s ICESCAPE mission, was also diverted to Saint Paul to assist.

The tug carried 29,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board, and a sheen covering 1.2 million square feet has been spotted. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jonathan Lally says that vessel owner C&K Marine is working with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to minimize environmental damage.

Another tug is on its way from Naknek to assist in salvage efforts.