The Observer, May, 2009

Alyeska Viewpoint:
Protecting the Sound’s people and environment

By GREG JONES
Senior Vice President, Valdez Operations and Health Safety Environment Quality
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.

With the recent passing of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, I would like to take this opportunity to tell readers what Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. now has in place to ensure another spill does not occur.

After the grounding of the Exxon Valdez, the federal government and state of Alaska passed oil spill laws changing tanker regulations and Alyeska operations in Prince William Sound. Alyeska formed the Ship Escort/Response Vessel System, known as SERVS. It is at the forefront of prevention and response for U.S. marine crude oil transportation and meets or exceeds both federal and state requirements.

Though SERVS’ primary role is prevention, no other facility in the world has more cleanup experience or equipment should another oil spill occur. The inventory consists of 11 escort and response tugs, nine oil recovery barges, 108 skimming units, over 49 miles of various kinds of boom, five hatchery-protection sites with equipment pre-staged, and five Prince William Sound response centers. In addition to the over 300 professionally trained contractor personnel, more than 350 fishing vessels with over 1,000 crew members are contracted for incident response.

Upon a tanker’s arrival at the Valdez Marine Terminal, boom is placed around it to contain any oil should a leak occur. Each outbound laden tanker is then tethered to a 10,200 horsepower tug to ensure the tug can control the tanker should a problem arise. Speed limits are imposed on the tankers allowing for sufficient time for the tug to react to assist the tanker. Over 11,000 tankers have been safely escorted without an incident since the start up of SERVS. Tankers simulate simultaneous propulsion and steering failures so that tug crews can remain proficient at controlling a tanker to keep it out of danger.

Oil spill prevention and response tactics drills are held frequently in Prince William Sound. On average, more than 70 drills are held annually to test various aspects of our marine safety system. The drills are designed to keep personnel sharp and familiar with the use of equipment and to help improve the planning and implementation of our oil spill contingency plans. Many agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council take part in our drills by partnering in drill design and ultimately evaluating the outcome of each drill.

Today we maintain a constant state of readiness to assist tankers in the safe navigation through Prince William Sound and to provide oil spill response services to the trans-Alaska pipeline, to the Valdez Marine Terminal, and to the tanker companies that ship North Slope crude in accordance with our oil spill response agreements and plans. Our core values continue to focus on the safety of our employees and contractors, the public, and our facilities. We will continue to respect the environment and do all we can to protect it for the future of our families and the public.

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