Unalaska, AK – What could've been a serious shipwreck was narrowly avoided this morning after a tramper vessel lost power near Hog Island in Unalaska Bay.

The Salica Frigo, a 443-foot Spanish-flagged ship, came within three tenths of a mile of hitting Hog Island after a complete engine failure at about 3 a.m. this morning. The ship was able to restore power at 6:43 a.m., about 15 minutes before it would have run aground at the speed it was drifting.

Stephan Moreno of the Alaska Marine Pilots said that he had sent the Salica Frigo out to sea last night after high seas caused it to begin breaking away from the dock where it was moored in Unalaska Bay. The captain called Moreno and the U.S. Coast Guard's Unalaska marine safety detachment to notify them of the engine failure at about 4 a.m.

Several tugboats responded, but were unable to get a line on the Salica Frigo. The vessel was able to restore power at the last minute, and is now tied up at the spit dock in Dutch Harbor with a slight list.

Charlie Medlicott with the Coast Guard's Unalaska detachment said that the ship is now under a Captain of the Port order, which means it can't leave Unalaska until class surveyors inspect and certify the vessel as seaworthy. The Salica Frigo is owned by Seatrade and was on its way to Asia.

The Salica Frigo has a fuel capacity of more than 450,000 gallons, according to information from the shipyard where it was built.