The Observer, July 2007

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Alyeska Viewpoint: Teamwork is essential element to maintain safety

By Mike Meadors, Manager of Alyeska’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System

Each year, Alyeska exercises a Prince William Sound response scenario to test the coordination between Alyeska, federal and state agencies and one of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System marine shippers. Members of these groups work months in advance to prepare the drill scenario to offer both realistic practice opportunities and a good learning exercise. This year’s annual exercise was hosted by BP from May 1-3 in Valdez, with drill objectives being exercised throughout various locations in the Sound. The initial feedback we have received from this May’s drill has been positive and the integration of BP into our initial response actions was “textbook,” according to some of the observers.

It is clear to us that success is a team effort and that in drills, real spills and day-to-day operations, SERVS–Alyeska’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System–is a part of a larger team.

In our prevention role, SERVS provides capable escort tugs to each laden tanker. The tanker’s captain, crew and embarked pilot are equally critical members of the prevention team. They are responsible for ensuring safe operation and navigation, for early recognition of problems, and for making prompt and effective use of the escort tugs if needed. Regular tethering exercises and periodic towing drills are conducted to maintain proficiency among the captains and crews of the tugs and tankers. Personnel at the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service are also critical members of the prevention team. They function as an additional set of eyes and ears.

In our response role, SERVS functions as an initial response team, but is quickly joined by other Alyeska personnel from the Valdez Marine Terminal, Fairbanks, and Anchorage to fill critical incident management functions. The Unified Command structure is another example of the team approach. The Unified Command includes the U.S. Coast Guard as federal on-scene coordinator, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation as state on-scene coordinator, and an incident commander from industry. The incident commander post is initially filled by Alyeska, but the party responsible for the spill takes over within 72 hours.

We emphasize prevention because we believe that a robust prevention system will minimize the possibility of an oil spill. Once the oil is in the water, our job is many times more difficult. We recognize, however, that a spill is always possible and that despite our prevention capabilities, we must remain response-ready. For this reason, we ensure our readiness by conducting regular maintenance of our equipment and vessels as well as conducting regular training of all SERVS personnel, including fishermen from the ports of Valdez, Cordova, Chenega Bay, Whittier, Seward, Kodiak, Homer, and Seldovia.

Finally, the people of the Prince William Sound communities and the regional citizens’ advisory council are critical to prevention and response. We share the goal of safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound and our working relationship promotes honest debate that results in a stronger prevention and response system. I’m proud to be part of such a great team.