When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in 1989, oil spill cleanup equipment was not ready to go. Some of it was buried in snow, other equipment was not operating. The first three days after the spill, the weather was calm, but responders could do little without equipment. Today, Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System and … Read more
Many of the drills and exercises conducted by the industry last year went well, according to the latest drill summary released by the Council. During the 14 drills and exercises observed in 2024, responders were generally well-practiced and activities went smoothly. The summary report also contains suggestions for future exercises. Tanker spill exercise In October, … Read more
Lessons learned during the pandemic here to stay The Council’s newest annual report on drills and exercises highlights lessons learned during the pandemic and recent changes due to new technologies. Large drills continue to take advantage of video-conferencing platforms. Meetings are held online. Documents and other data are shared through online collaboration tools. “While the … Read more
For the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of daily life. Oil spill drills and exercises were not exempt. Restrictions to protect the health and safety of responders limited these activities. Not only were there fewer drills and exercises, they were harder to observe. Social distancing meant that Council staff could not … Read more