All Updates

INCIDENT UPDATE 3 For Immediate Release - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The 2026 Knowles Head Exercise Unified Command will offer two seats to the media for a scheduled 2:00 p.m. overflight of the spill.

Map of approved Shipping Lanes

The 2026 Knowles Head Exercise Unified Command will hold a media briefing at the Valdez Civic Center on Wednesday to discuss response efforts

If a tanker vessel is damaged in Prince William Sound, a salvage plan may be required. Salvage plans are designed to prevent or limit additional release of cargo to the environment, to plan for the off-loading of remaining cargo aboard the vessel, as well as to move the vessel from the incident scene if needed.

The number one priority of the Unified Command is the safety of responders and the public.

The spill source has been controlled, with more than 500 personnel and 298 Vessels of Opportunity actively recovering the approximately 3.5 million gallons of oily water mixture collected so far. The Coast Guard safety zone has expanded to 5 by 10 miles, fishing remains open but avoid any seafood where oil is visible or detectable, and the updated claims line is 1-877-664-5044.

Sensitive area protection activities divert or exclude oil from environmentally sensitive areas and shorelines. Special techniques include specific protection strategies, such as diverting and entrapping oil before it contaminates identified coves and shorelines.

Additional FAQ information regarding fishing vessels and the response.

As of 12:00 a.m., May 13, responsibility for claims management will transition to the U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Claims Center.

VALDEZ, Alaska, May 12, 2026 – At approximately 7 p.m. today, Fairwater Tankers Alaska LLC has joined
the Unified Command that was established to respond to a crude oil spill in Prince William Sound.
Fairwater owns the tanker T/V Western Sea, and is the responsible party for the cargo that was spilled
at approximately 3:30 a.m.

Avoid harvesting or consuming any seafood, birds, or mammals in areas where oil or sheen is visible or detectable by smell, and do not collect animals that appear oiled or are behaving abnormally. Finfish, birds, and mammals all metabolize oil relatively quickly, so animals that show no visible signs of oiling and appear otherwise healthy carry a low consumption risk. If you remain concerned, avoid eating organ meats, particularly the liver.