Sunny-Labe

The "Shin Onoe" has left Unalaska ahead of schedule on Feb 6, 2013. The vessel passed its sea trials and a Coast Guard inspection, before it left Summer Bay around 3 p.m. The vessel had spent two days in Summer Bay getting its turbocharger fixed after losing propulsion on the Great Circle shipping route. The "Shin Onoe" was originally bound for Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to pick up a load of cargo, but it was unsure where the vessel was headed now. Report with photo: http://kucb.org/news/article/after-repairs-massive-cargo-ship-leaves-unalaska/

When it finally arrives in Unalaska next week, the Shin Onoe will be one of the biggest vessels to ever stay in port here. It’s 150 feet wide, with a 60 foot draft when it’s full of coal, soybeans, or iron. Right now, it’s empty. It was traveling along the Great Circle shipping route to Prince William Sound early this week to pick up cargo when its turbocharger failed, just west of Attu island. Ed Page has been tracking the vessel for the nonprofit Marine Exchange of Alaska. “She has less power than she normally would, so she can’t make good time or good speed,” Page says. “She’s plodding along at about five knots through the Aleutians, through the Bering Sea.” As of Friday afternoon, Page said the Shin Onoe was about 600 miles northwest of Unalaska. He’s been feeding this information to the Coast Guard. More at http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/02/01/massive-disabled-cargo-ship-in-route-to-dutch-harbor/