In the Field
Wave Machine Helps Prepare Spill Responders

What does a “wave machine” have to do with working at the Valdez Marine Terminal and spill response? If you ask Alyeska’s Steve Hood, he’ll tell you it’s an essential element of response preparedness for the Prince William Sound Oil Spill Contingency Plan. Hood is a Senior Response Coordinator for Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) and for the last three years he has been charged with planning and implementing the “Oil on Water Training” in Valdez.

The wave machine is on loan from Alaska Clean Seas, and Alyeska periodically uses this unique piece of equipment to train spill responders. The objective of this training program is to help prepare responders on how to use different skimmers and to conduct the training in a real-world environment. These response techniques are done in the wave machine which can replicate the characteristics of the open water and the frequency and height of wave patterns. The wave machine is 8 feet by 50 feet, and holds 4,000 gallons of seawater. For this training, 300 gallons of crude oil is typically added to the seawater and responders use a variety of skimmers to extract the oil. The responders then become intimate with the use of seven different types of skimmers.

Spill prevention is Alyeska’s top priority; consequently, the company is committed to maintaining a fast and effective response to minimize environmental damages in the event of an oil spill. This training and the use of new technology and proven response equipment can help meet these goals and minimize the impact of spill events.

Approximately 130 employees from across the company will receive training with the wave machine, along with 10 local fishing vessel captains from the “Tier 1 Fleet” – the core fleet of fishing vessels from SERVS.

“Participants are trained in the operation of the equipment and learn how to maximize the amount of oil recovery in real oil and wave conditions,” said Hood, shown at right.

Hood ensures each crew member who receives this training learns the importance of conducting a site characterization – a safety step that helps identify hazards prior to deploying crews to the site. This process includes evaluating the impacted area, taking vapor readings prior to full deployment of the crew, determining hazard levels, and informing the operations center of pre-deployment conditions.

“We do this training to keep responders trained,” said Hood. “By working with the wave machine, we also learn what tools (skimmers) work best in different environmental settings.”