?Cougar Ace? nears end of journey to Portland

ôCougar Aceö nears end of journey to Portland The disabled Mitsui O.S.K. Line auto transport vessel 'Cougar Ace' has reached the mouth of the Columbia River after being towed from waters near Unalaska Island, Alaska, by a salvage tug, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
   MOL’s salvage team, Titan Maritime, will tow the 'Cougar Ace' to the Port of Portland with the help of river pilots.
   Portland was selected as the site to repair the vessel and offload more than 4,800 Mazda vehicles because of its auto import facilities. The port has space to store the vehicles and its status as a Foreign Trade Zone enables Mazda to store and service the vehicles without payment of import duty until they are ready for delivery.
   The 'Cougar Ace' rolled on its side in late July off of the Aleutian Islands after losing stability in during a ballast water exchange. Salvors righted the vessel after pumping water out of the holds.