Alyeska's escort service.

• Author: Bonham, Nicole A.
• Position: Tugboat escort service for oil tankers

It's Tugs Ahead For Environmental Protection

Oil tankers leave the Prince William Sound, the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, with about 1.25 million barrels of crude oil per day. But unlike the hapless days of the Exxon Valdez, these jumbos aren't left to their own in the recovering waters of the Prince William Sound. Alyeska spends about $60 million a year to escort oil-laden tankers out to sea.

With the delivery of two powerhouse tractor tugs on the horizon for next year, the tanker escort system in place at Prince William Sound is braced to observe a milestone reminiscent of that darkest hour in 1989 when Alaska lost its innocence to a sea of black oil.

The impending delivery of the new 10,000-horsepower Voith Schneider Propulsion tractor tugs closely coincides with the 10-year anniversary of that fateful morning on Bligh Reef when the laden oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, ran aground. That March 1989 spill made history among the industry's worst environmental disasters, also triggering an intense legal battle that would continue well into the next decade.

More than that, the Exxon Valdez catastrophe shattered any complacency that existed beforehand, prompting a battle cry from the public for information and oversight. The years since have seasoned the tense partnership that resulted-the players including a citizen's advisory group, and state, industry and federal agencies.

Now some see the safeguards in place - including the new tugs - as marks of progress in ensuring an efficient and environmentally protective transport of Alaska's richest resource.

The tugs, considered the largest of their kind in the world, can make right or left turns on a dime - regardless of whether they are standing still or moving forward, according to Gene Till, operations advisor for Alyeska Pipeline Service's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS).

"They also are able to do what's called the indirect-towing mode, which a tractor tug is uniquely suited for," he said. Also, "in many folks' view anyway, it's a much more efficient way to apply braking forces and steering forces to a disabled vessel."

Crowley Marine Services, Inc. was selected to construct and operate the tugs, which are being built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash. They' re designed specifically for tanker-escort operations in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound and feature some unique equipment.

"As opposed to the conventional drive tug-just a regular propeller-shaft type of...