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Cook Inlet
Regional Citizens Advisory Council
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CIRCAC Newsletter, Council Briefs (PDF)

Read Our 2006 Annual Report (PDF)
EVENTS
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RELATED LINKS
Seaweeds of Alaska

Prince William Sound RCAC

Safety of Navigation in Cook Inlet (PDF)

Alaska Oil Spill Permits Tool

Shorezone Mapping Video "Fly the Coastline"

Cook Inlet Geographic Response Strategies


**Announcement:  Former Executive Director James E. Carter, Sr. Passes Away.  Follow link to memorial in ADN.


COUNCIL HOSTS NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY FORUM, CALLS FOR YEAR ROUND TUG, RISK ASSESSMENT

program coverCook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council is calling for the State of Alaska and the United States Coast Guard to fund a comprehensive navigational risk assessment for Cook Inlet to identify deficiencies and to help implement measures that make vessel traffic safer. The Council is also requesting that large vessel operators like oil and shipping companies station an assist tug in Upper Cook Inlet permanently.

The calls follow the Council’s two-day Navigational Safety Forum in Anchorage where major industry, regulatory, municipal, and environmental stakeholders from across the region met to identify risks and discuss potential new safeguards for the Inlet. Panelists and expert speakers at the Forum included: Mayor Mark Begich (Anchorage), Capt. Mark DeVries (USCG), Dr. Jack Harrald (risk assessment/keynote), Dr. Orson Smith (UAA), Kathleen Cole (National Weather Service Ice Forecaster), Steve Willrich (Seabulk International), Michael Munger (CIRCAC), Bob Shavelson (Cook Inletkeeper), Vern McCorkle (Alaska Business Monthly) among others.

Forum participants agreed with the Council’s requests to find a way to keep Tesoro’s recently contracted Crowley "Protector-class" tug or a similar vessel in the Inlet throughout the year. The tug assists oil tankers at the KPL and Drift River facilities and has been contracted to stay until the winter ice retreats later this year.

Tesoro should be applauded for their commitment to navigational safety by bringing this tug into Cook Inlet," said Executive Director Mike Munger. "It is a rare occurrence to see any corporation go above and beyond regulatory compliance. Tesoro decided that this is the right thing to do and the Council certainly appreciates this proactive measure." Mr. Munger added that the tug also has fire fighting capabilities, which Cook Inlet has needed for a long time. "It is our hope that the tug will be stationed year round and that other companies at the Nikiski docks will also make use of this important safety tool."

The Council had first identified the need for a tug in 1992. Numerous incidents over the past decade reinforced the Council’s position and a tanker grounding last year that threatened a massive oil spill demonstrated the level of risk citizens face without tugs.

Tesoro has hired the tug and currently bears the total cost of the vessel. The Council is requesting that the Coast Guard develop and implement regulations to require docking assist vessels at the three industrial Nikiski docks and to strengthen winter ice operating rules for all vessels.

Download the Cook Inlet Navigational Safety Forum Proceedings (PDF 1.5 MB)

Download the Cook Inlet Vessel Trafic Study (PDF 3.7 MB)

Download the Cook Inlet Mooring Study (PDF 1.4 MB)

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Tesoro Brings Tug to Assist with Tankers in Inlet

Cook Inlet RCAC announced recently that Tesoro Alaska will bring a new tractor tug into service to assist oil tankers at the KPL dock in Nikiski. Cook Inlet RCAC has discussed the need for a tug vessel extensively with industry representatives and a tanker grounding near the Nikiski facility last year underscored that prevention gap.

crowley tug"Citizens have wanted this kind of protection for a long time and we’ve been persistent in bringing about this change,” said Cook Inlet RCAC Executive Director Michael Munger. “Tugs play a role everywhere that oil tankers port in the U.S. and it’s time Cook Inlet saw similar safeguards, especially during winter months when ice becomes such a hazard. We appreciate Tesoro's decision to implement this navigational safeguard that goes above and beyond regulatory compliance.”

Cook Inlet RCAC passed a resolution last February when ice blanketed the Upper Inlet calling for adequately equipped tug vessels and requesting shippers and producers to agree on a funding formula to provide for navigational safeguards. The tug is expected to stay in service through winter and does not replace any other prevention/response vessels. Tesoro may also use the tug to assist vessels that dock at the Drift River facility on the west side of Cook Inlet.

The 5500 horsepower, 120-foot "Protector Class" tug is designed for ship assist, docking, and escort, according to Crowley Maritime and is part of their next generation of tractors that operators can quickly switch between modes.  The tug uses a Voith Schneider twin cycloidal propulsion system like those used on the larger Nanuq and Tan'erliq tugs in Prince William Sound as well as a hydrofoil-shaped skeg that provides for improved steering, control, and seakeeping ability. The propulsion is different from conventional tugs because it allows for use of most of the tug’s power in any direction. In the Puget Sound area, the Protector Class tugs assist large tankers into and out of berths and provide both tethered and untethered escort services through out rugged coastlines and under very extreme weather conditions.

Capt. Mark DeVries, Coast Guard Sector Commander and Captain of the Port, commented that he is pleased commercial operators in Cook Inlet continue to seek non-regulatory answers to mitigate the risk associated with operating in the Inlet's challenging environment.

"This tug provides Lower Cook Inlet both prevention and response capability which bolsters the Inlet's preparedness and readiness to new levels. Tesoro Alaska should be credited for their action," he said.

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Read the latest on some of our projects in the quarterly newsletter, the COUNCIL BRIEFS



 
 
 
 
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