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By ANDRES MORALES
Director of Ship Escort Response Vessel System

Last fall, I was offered and accepted an opportunity to be interim Director at the Ship Escort and Response Vessel System (SERVS). As many of you know, this is a challenging job and is supported by a high-quality, dedicated team. When the job was offered to me officially in July, I did not hesitate to accept. I am excited by the job, the mission, and the team.

A little background about me: I've worked in Prince William Sound for more than twenty years, and alongside the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council many of those years. As general manager with Crowley Marine, I collaborated with the council on many marine safety issues. I joined Alyeska in 2000, and worked in the Oil Movements and Storage and the Maintenance departments at the Valdez Marine Terminal. In these roles, I helped provide the council with information on operations and maintenance at the Terminal.

We have a world-class response operation here in Prince William Sound. As SERVS director, I want to ensure we continue to use the most effective methods of response available. We're looking at lessons learned from other spills, such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico. The council has been active in producing independent research on these spill-related issues. Moving forward, I want to make sure this information is captured and applied appropriately.

I am personally committed to open communications with the council, and all stakeholders in Prince William Sound. Along with Scott Hicks, the new Valdez Marine Terminal director, I'll be meeting with Mark Swanson on a regular basis to discuss current and ongoing issues and concerns. I'm also looking forward to continued input on drills, exercises and other activities of mutual interest. Independent, constructive analysis of our operations is valuable, and I believe it makes us a better organization.

My very first job on a tanker brought me into Port Valdez, and since 1995 I've called it home. Prince William Sound was and is the most beautiful place I have ever sailed into. I have great respect for the mission of the council. Indeed, we share the same goal: Safely transporting crude oil through the Sound and protecting this special ecosystem we call home. This stewardship is on the minds of everyone at Alyeska and nowhere more than here at SERVS. Like members of the council, we live here, our families live here, and we want to make sure it is here for future generations. There is tremendous common ground between us, and I look forward to bringing new energy and focus to our relationship.