New tug arrives in Cook Inlet.

• Position: OIL & GAS

Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council said 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 the prevention gap.

"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...