ANCHORAGE, AK –  July 27, 2000.  During a routine inspection of the Valdez Marine Terminal Berth 3 ballast water piping, Alyeska discovered the liner inside the pipe has pulled away from the pipe wall in some places, and in some places the liner has cracked. The failure has allowed ballast water to get between the liner and the pipe wall, increasing the possibility of corrosion in the pipe. No ballast water has leaked from the pipe. The inspection was part of Alyeska’s ongoing corrosion monitoring program.

The 42-inch pipe carries ballast water, a mixture of salt water and crude oil, from tankers at the berth to the Ballast Water Treatment facility. Most of the pipe is buried. Alyeska is conducting a visual inspection to determine the extent of the problem and will decide what alternatives are possible based upon this inspection. So far, several areas of pipe have been found to have active corrosion.

Due to the discovery of the liner problem, Berth 3 will remain temporarily out of service as alternatives are considered. This shutdown will continue into the same time period that Berth 4 is scheduled to be shut down for routine maintenance. The Berth 4 shutdown is scheduled to begin August 2 and last 23 days, during which time several maintenance projects will be completed, including the replacement of the crude oil loading arms and an inspection of the associated ballast water piping.

Tanker loading is not expected to be notably affected when Berth 3 and Berth 4 are shut down simultaneously. Berths 1 and 5 will remain operational during the shutdown and Alyeska will commit needed resources to minimize any disruption in tanker schedules.

Alyeska has briefed the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Joint Pipeline Office, the Regional Citizens Advisory Council and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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