WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25, 2000
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SERVS Assists in Vessel Rescue
At 7:45 a.m. today, Alyeska Pipeline’s
Ship Escort/ Response Vessel System (SERVS) in conjunction with Crowley Maritime refloated
a third-party “log ship” grounded on the beach in Icy Bay on the south coast of
Alaska, about 130 to 150 miles east of Valdez. The call for assistance was received on
Saturday afternoon. The SERVS docking/escort tug Sea Venture was immediately dispatched
and made a first attempt to free the grounded vessel at high tide on Sunday morning. The
SERVS oil spill response barge Allison Creek was later dispatched to remove fuel oil from
the grounded vessel as a precautionary measure. The barge was not needed; the Sea Venture
was able to refloat the grounded vessel this morning. The 600-foot log ship was undergoing
loading operations at the time when it went aground.
Alyeska Receives Notice of Probable
Violation
Alyeska Pipeline received a Notice of
Probable Violation from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on February 10, 2000.
The Notice addresses eight items. These items are a compilation of findings from
inspections conducted by the DOT in 1999. Two of these items have a civil penalty attached
for a total fine of $75,000. Six items are addressed in a Proposed Compliance Order.
Alyeska is reviewing the notice and preparing a response.
There are no active safety or integrity
issues presented by these findings.
The Proposed Compliance Order addresses
issues associated with cathodic protection, valve testing at ramped-down pump stations,
timing for inspections of external corrosion control devices, and relief system concerns.
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