Tanker Escort System
Human error, severe weather, complex geography, mechanical failure - any of these can contribute to an emergency involving a laden oil tanker in Prince William Sound. A disabled tanker requires immediate action. Prince William Sound is home to a world-class tanker escort system, which provides a variety of emergency and spill prevention services such as iceberg detection, tanker rescues, immediate spill response, and more.
What is the escort system?
In Prince William Sound, two high-powered, state-of-the-art tugs accompany every oil-laden tanker travelling through the Sound and out to the Gulf of Alaska.
The heart of the oil-spill prevention system in the Sound is the fleet of escort vessels operated by SERVS. Thanks to years of study and analysis, and considerable investment by the shipping industry, this system is widely considered the best in the world.
The purpose of this system is to have escorts in place to:
- Monitor conditions
- Alert the tanker of problems before they occur
- Assist a disabled tanker as quickly as possible
- Start the cleanup in the event of a spill
At least one of the two escorts is equipped with containment boom, oil skimmers, a work boat to deploy boom, storage for recovered oil, and a trained response crew.
Escort vessels accompany the tankers from the berths at Valdez across Prince William Sound, through Hinchinbrook Entrance, and into the Gulf of Alaska. Three "escort zones", Northern Prince William Sound, Central Prince William Sound, and the Hinchinbrook Entrance have varying escort requirements.
This system of complex zones was developed to ensure safe, secure passage through all areas of the Sound.
Why is the escort system so important?
Preventing oil spills is the council’s number one priority. The escort system safeguards against oil spills caused by navigational errors, Alaska’s frequent extreme weather, and human error.
The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that nearly 85 percent of oil spills and marine accidents are caused by human error.
We must remember that, while double-hulled tankers are a great technological advance and help reduce spill severity, double hulls cannot prevent all spills. Escort tugs are still a crucial defense against oil spills.
Prevention is the most important tool available to prevent environmental damage to Prince William Sound from oil spills. The fact remains that, despite vast technological improvements and training, oil spills are still extremely difficult to clean up.
Escort tugs are able to interrupt the chain of events that cause accidents to occur. If a vessel veers off course while maneuvering through the treacherous waters of Prince William Sound, strong towlines can quickly connect the tanker to one of the tugs. The powerful escort tug engines have the capacity to slow or divert even the heaviest of the Sound’s tankers in short order.
Besides spill prevention, escort vessels in Prince William Sound have many responsibilities. Daily duties include assisting tankers while docking and undocking and escorting laden tankers through Prince William Sound. They also carry spill response equipment for quick response to spills. Containment boom to surround and contain spilled oil, oil skimmers to skim oil from the surface of the water, and storage capacity for recovered oil are all on hand for immediate deployment. Specially trained spill response personnel are on board and ready to act should an accident occur. Tugs are also equipped with firefighting capabilities for emergencies.
A history of recent escort system legislation
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, when first enacted, required that all single-hull oil-laden tankers departing Prince William Sound be escorted by two tugs. In addition, the act included requirements that the industry begin a transition to double-hull tankers.
Over the years, the council became concerned that once this transition was complete, the existing requirements would not extend to these newer vessels and the system could legally be reduced or come to an end.
In concert with its many industry, agency and legislative partners, the council worked to make the two tug escort requirement a permanent part of the oil transportation system in Prince William Sound.
Read expressions of support for the tug escort system.
In 2010, an amendment to 1990’s Oil Pollution Act was included in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.
Excerpt of amendment: ”...The requirement ... relating to single hulled tankers in Prince William Sound, Alaska, ... being escorted by at least 2 towing vessels or other vessels considered to be appropriate ... shall apply to double hulled tankers over 5,000 gross tons transporting oil in bulk in Prince William Sound, Alaska.”
Signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 15, 2010, the two tug escort system has now been preserved.
Milestones in the legislative process:
- October 15, 2010 - Dual tankers escorts for double-hulled tankers signed into law by President Obama on October 15, 2010! The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 ensures the continuation of two tanker escorts for double-hull tankers in the Sound.
- September 30, 2010 - The U.S. Senate passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R. 3619) with the dual tug requirement still intact.
- October 23rd, 2009 - H.R. 3619 passed out of the House of Representatives. H.R. 3619 included language to preserve the escort system in Prince William Sound. The action on this measure now moves to the U.S. Senate. Read the press release from Don Young's office.
- November 2009 - Council president Steve Lewis praised Congressmen Don Young, R-Alaska, and James Oberstar, D-Minn., for their work in securing passage of U.S. House legislation to preserve the tug escort system for loaded oil tankers in the Sound. Read Lewis's full press release here.
- May 14, 2009 - Sens Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich introduced federal legislation to preserve the present system of dual tug escorts for all tankers carrying oil through Prince William Sound.
- Senator Murkowski read a statement on the floor of the Senate supporting the two tug requirement.
- April 8, 2009 - Governor Palin released a letter supporting the continuation of the dual tug escort system.
- March 2009 - Both chambers of the Alaska Legislature unanimously passed House Joint Resolution No.19 calling for continuation of the dual escorts.
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