Online Observer Archives | Page 68 of 91 | Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

Symposium for marine firefighters set for May

October 27, 2014September 23, 2014 by Amanda Johnson

The eighth edition of the Marine Firefighting Symposium for Land-Based Firefighters will be held on May 19-21, 2015 in Valdez, Alaska. The three-day conference will educate shore-based firefighters on the best available marine firefighting information and practices, using both classroom and field experiences.

Shipboard fires can occur in any coastal community and at any time. The enhanced training offered at the symposium will help firefighters in coastal communities be better prepared to respond safely and effectively to marine fire incidents.

Anchorage and Valdez offices welcome new staff members

January 19, 2015September 23, 2014 by Amanda Johnson

Over the summer, the council said goodbye to two staffers and welcomed two new staff members to take their place.

What’s in an oil spill contingency plan? Prevention and response and the essence of preparedness

January 19, 2015September 23, 2014 by Amanda Johnson

From the executive director:

It’s fall now in Alaska. You can feel it in the air. You can see it in the new snow deposited on the mountain peaks after the rain clouds clear away. Commercial and recreational salmon fisheries are over for the year and in Valdez, the RV parks, hotels, and restaurants are emptying out. Suddenly, there is ample parking at the harbor. With the visible end of summer and the beginning of fall, there is a certain seriousness and palpable urgency to preparations for winter. In Valdez, we receive an average of 27 feet of snow per year, and wind speeds can run into the triple digits during storms. Only the foolhardy go into the winter season unprepared.

Powerful new vessel joins oil spill response fleet

January 19, 2015September 23, 2014 by Amanda Johnson

From Alyeska:

Alyeska Pipeline President Tom Barrett christens the Yukon Responder with TAPS personnel. Photo courtesy of Alyeska. — Alyeska Pipeline President Tom Barrett christens the Yukon Responder with TAPS personnel.

The Yukon Responder is Alyeska’s newest oil spill response vessel and it is a beast with a 34-foot hull, 12-foot beam, twin Yamaha 250hp outboard motors, 300-gallon fuel tank, seating for 12, and a weight capacity of 7,000 lbs. This vessel is different from other TAPS response vessels in that it is a twin screw catamaran, specifically designed for river response but fully capable of operating in Prince William Sound.