Face to Face
Larry Marchant
Logistics Response Coordinator, SERVS

What is your key responsibility on a daily basis?

In a word, preparedness. I ensure that our oil spill response equipment and other resources are operational and in place throughout Prince William Sound. In the event of an incident, we have to respond quickly. It’s about maintaining a constant state of readiness. I do this at our five community response centers in Whittier, Cordova, Tatitlek, Chenega Bay and Valdez, and at six hatchery sites in the Sound.

What was so significant about the Windy Bay incident?

Alyeska’s role in the Windy Bay fishing vessel sinking was critical. Without us, the outcome would have been far worse. My role was to manage the staging area. When operations need resources, they come to me. I support staging for the agency people involved in the response – anything from workboat platforms to birdcages. I also support the fishing vessels working the response, keeping them supplied with water, fuel and groceries.

What is the biggest challenge you face in an incident like this?

Things happen quickly. You’ve got to be on top of where everything is at any given moment. It requires extraordinary teamwork. I may coordinate it, but without the support and cooperation of lots of folks, things wouldn’t get very far. For me, it’s working with such a variety of great people that I get the biggest kick out of.

Here’s a small example. We got grocery orders one evening from 15 vessels working the response.

Between the time we got the order and actual delivery, five vessels were released from the spill and returned to Valdez. We were able to pull the released vessels’ groceries and hold them for pick-up. It might seem like a small thing, but to an exhausted crew, it means a lot.

Larry likes to ride his Harley and enjoys spending time with his very large family including 16 grandkids.