Latest Tanker Operator news

Two escorts for Alaskan tankers planned
(Oct  19  2009)

An impending US Coast Guard bill requires that double-hulled tankers would have to be accompanied by at least two emergency towing vessels when transiting Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the USCG bill on 24th September.

Today, the two tug rule only applies to single hull tankers, but most vessels trading into the area are now double hull.

Local oil industry watchdogs, as well as Alaska’s congressional delegation have said that they prefer that the oil industry continue with the dual tug escorts, even though the double-hulled tankers are deemed to be less vulnerable to oil spills.

Escorting each oil-laden tanker with two tugs is expensive. Members of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council have said that they are worried oil companies might try to eliminate the expense now that the fleet has gone almost exclusively double-hulled, according to local sources.

Oil tanker operators have told local sources that they have no immediate plans to drop dual escorts. About 16 tankers regularly call at Valdez, most of them lifting crude for BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil.

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