Ice floes float in Arctic waters above the Arctic Circle in 2008. A U.S. Coast Guard plane is searching for a Canadian barge adrift off the coast of Alaska. If the weather doesn’t improve, the barge may have to be left in the ice over the winter.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
A U.S. Coast Guard plane is searching for a Canadian barge adrift off the coast of Alaska.
Commander Shawn Decker says the barge was last seen on Wednesday and is thought to be within 15 kilometres of the shore.
The barge, owned by Northern Transportation Corp. Ltd., broke free from its tugboat under unexpectedly high winds and heavy seas on Tuesday.
It is carrying 3,500 litres of light diesel in its own fuel tanks.
Company president Patrick Schmidt says once the barge is found and if it's safe enough, sailors will be taken to the barge and steer it to port under its own power.
If the weather doesn't improve, the barge may have to be left in the ice over the winter.
Decker says the drifting barge shows the importance of response capability in the Arctic, especially as shipping in the area increases.