Protector Tug Arrives in Valdez

The Protector, a 5,500 horsepower tractor tug, arrived in Port Valdez today at 6:00 a.m. The Protector is one of two tractor tugs planned for use in Alyeska Pipeline’s tanker escort system through Prince William Sound. The Protector and The Guard, which will arrive in mid-August, will be used on an interim basis until the arrival of the two 10,000 horsepower enhanced tractor tugs in early 1999. The “Protector” class tugs offer enhanced maneuverability with the cyclonic propulsion system. When completed, the enhanced tractor tugs will be the largest tractor tugs in the world with this kind of propulsion system. The enhanced tractor tugs were designed and will be owned and operated by Crowley Marine Services. Alaska Media Notice: Video and still photos of The Protector in Port Valdez will be available on Tuesday, July 14.

Houston/NANA JV, Alyeska Pipeline’s maintenance and equipment contractor, has reached the 20-percent Alaska Native hire goal several years ahead of schedule. “The Houston/NANA staff has worked extremely hard to reach this goal, and we’re proud that they’ve been able to do what initially seemed an almost impossible task,” Section 29 Manager Willie Hensley announced this week. The Alaska Native hire agreement between Alyeska and the U.S. Department of the Interior requires that by the year 2004 at least 20-percent of all Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) employees be Alaska Natives. Of the almost 500 Houston/NANA employees, 104 are Alaska Natives. Alaska Native employees also represent 12 of the 13 regional corporations. Natchiq, Inc. is the parent company of Houston Contracting Company. Natchiq, Inc. is owned by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, with headquarters in Barrow. NANA is a Native-owned regional corporation based in Kotzebue. NANA also has offices in Anchorage.

Alyeska Pipeline and Houston/NANA, Alyeska’s equipment and maintenance contractor, called for work to stop on a project to upgrade Remote Gate Valve (RGV) control systems. The stop work order was issued after safety and quality concerns were raised. Also, an employee concern was raised alleging intimidation and harassment of project personnel. Project work was stopped on Wednesday, July 13, at 6:00 p.m. Before work on the project can resume, a list of requirements must be met, including resolution of safety and quality concerns, completion of the investigation into the intimidation and harassment issues, and Culture of Trust training for contract and Alyeska project employees. The Stop Work Order is expected to be lifted this week.

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