In the Field
Out of the dark: Alyeska conducts spill exercise during nighttime hours

It’s Alyeska’s responsibility to be prepared for the unexpected. So when the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) recently called for a nighttime oil spill exercise, Alyeska was ready.

Alyeska’s successful response to the drill shows the organization’s dedication to prevention and response duties in Prince William Sound. ADEC called the drill to test Alyeska’s spill response plan, and the event gave Alyeska a unique opportunity to test equipment and personnel during darkness.

“This drill was particularly important because it was a requirement from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that we demonstrate the capability associated with Open Water Task Force operations during hours of darkness,” said Dave Lawrence, operations manager for Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System.

The majority of the drills and tabletop exercises conducted in Valdez normally occur in daytime hours.

Alyeska’s spill response plan in Prince William Sound covers a comprehensive network of resources and equipment strategically placed throughout the area, including more than 300 fishing vessel owners who are contracted to respond in the event of a spill.

Spill prevention is a critical piece of Alyeska's business. Alyeska works throughout the year with its regulators, stakeholders and other agencies to review all possible exercise scenarios. The idea is to create situations that are unique to the geographical area, giving exercise participants an opportunity to develop realistic response strategies. 

Over 40 people participated in the drill. In addition to testing Alyeska’s response capabilities, these exercises also provide an opportunity to evaluate the coordination between Alyeska and the participating agencies, groups, and companies: the U.S. Coast Guard, ADEC, the Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council, Crowley and Tatitlek Chenega Chugach (TCC).