Alyeska’s SERVS operation in Prince William Sound will now use the Sentinel Escort system, a change recommended by a two-year Risk Assessment on tanker traffic. The change is expected to increase safety by decreasing the amount of traffic in the Sound. Under the Sentinel System, one tug travels with the tanker in the traditional “follow along” escort. The other vessels that used to travel with the tanker and tug are now stationed at three set locations in Prince William Sound. When a laden tanker is transiting the Sound, the Escort Response Vessels are called on alert and move into position to monitor the tanker as it passes.

The coverage of outbound tankers in the Sentinel System is estimated to be equal to that supplied by two or three continuous escorts. Additionally, the ERVs stationed in the Sound are placed on watch for unladen inbound tankers, which previously traveled to Port Valdez without escort.

The Sentinel System is a recommendation that came out of a two-year Risk Assessment done by the Tanker Operators, Alyeska, the Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Regional Citizens Advisory Council. One of the risks identified in the Risk Assessment was the hazard of too many vessels traveling through Prince William Sound, including escorts returning after a tanker has departed. The Sentinel System reduces the number of vessels transiting the Sound and adds increased monitoring to inbound tankers.

A damper on a newly installed furnace malfunctioned and closed just after midnight on Sunday, causing fire crews to respond to the scene. Though there was some light smoke in the warehouse, no fire occurred.

No one was in the building at the time of the alarm. Smoke was cleared from the building. There was no damage or evidence of a fire.

The furnace will remain out of service until repairs can be completed today.

The pipeline was slowed down for approximately one-hour on Saturday afternoon, October 24, due to unscheduled maintenance on a pump at Pump Station 1. Because Pump Station 1 was required to operate with one unit, the other pump stations north of the Brooks Range were also dropped to one operating pump. Pump station 7, north of Fairbanks, was idled. There was no impact to the producers. The maintenance was completed and the pipeline was returned to normal operation at 4:20 p.m.

An analytical device designed to measure the shape of the pipeline was put into the pipeline this weekend and will arrive at the Valdez Marine Terminal on Saturday. This pig is being run to confirm no damage occurred to the pipeline during an overpressure situation which occurred August 5, 1998. This “deformation” pig measures the diameter of the pipeline to determine if there are locations where the pipe might contain dents or is no longer perfectly round. The shape of the pipe will help determine if the overpressure impacted the integrity of the pipe. If changes to the pipe are discovered, an engineering analysis will be performed and any necessary corrective action taken.

The deformation pig is typically run through the pipeline every three years. Data collected from the pig run will be available in about two months. Areas where the pipe is no longer round or contains dents are monitored to ensure pipe integrity is maintained.

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