SERVS

Ship Escort/Response Vessel Systems (SERVS)

The mission of Alyeska Pipeline's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System is to  prevent oil spills by assisting tankers in safe navigation through Prince William Sound and to protect the environment by providing effective response services to the Valdez Marine Terminal and Alaska Crude Oil Shippers in accordance with oil spill response agreements and plans.

The foundation of the SERVS' prevention program is the tanker escort system designed to help tankers safely navigate the 70 miles through Prince William Sound to the Gulf of Alaska. During the trip through Port Valdez, Valdez Narrows and Valdez Arm, a powerful tug tethered to the stern of the tanker provides immediate assistance if the tanker loses power or has steering problems. A second vessel stays with the tanker in continuous, close escort as a "sentinel" during the transit of Prince William Sound.

SERVS QUICK FACTS:

Established - July 10, 1989

Equipment

Enhanced Tractor Tugs (ETTs) - 2 - Nanug and Tan’erliq. (Alaska Native words for polar bear and black bear)
Function - designed for tethered tanker escort and oil spill response operations. The vessels enhance the ability to assist a disabled tanker.
State-of-the-art, exceptional maneuverability, deployed in 1999.
Size - approx. 153 ft., 10,192 hp, 70,000 gallons recovered oil storage.
Crew - 7, trained response personnel.
Equipped with Voith Schneider propulsion system.
2,000 ft. of boom.
DESMI skimmers.
70,000 gallons of recovered oil storage capacity.
Dispersant spray arm systems.
ABS Class 1 Firefighting rating that includes pumps, monitors, foam and vessel spray system.

Prevention/Response Tugs (PRTs) - 3 - Alert, Attentive, and Aware.
Function - specially designed for escorting and response service in Prince William Sound.
Best technology for prevention and response missions by powerful ocean-class tugs, arrival in 2000.
Size - approx. 140 ft., 10,200 hp Z drives.
Crew - 7, trained response personnel.
Equipped with
2,000 ft. of Kepner Sea Curtain Boom.
Two DESMI skimmers.
Two 20-ft Kvichak workboats.
AVS Class 1 Firefighting rating that includes pumps, monitors, foam and vessel spray systems.

Additional Vessels - 5, including docking tugs and Endurance, an Emergency Response Vessel.

Response Barges - 6.
Four barges each have three open class major skimming systems mounted aboard. (two ea. TransRec 350 and one GrahamRec Skimmers)
Dedicated nearshore barge - 1, the Responder 500-2.
Lightering barge - 1.
Total storage capacity - in excess of 780,000 bbls

Skimmers - more than 100.
Total recovery capacity - more than 75,000 bbls/hr
Skimming capacity - ranges from greater than 3,000 bbls/hr to small systems for operating in shallow water.
Valdez Star oil spill recovery vessel - dynamic inclined plane skimming system.
Skimming capacity - 2,000 bbls/hr (design)
Size - 123 ft.

Boom - various types.
Total at SERVS - over 42 miles.

Response Centers - 5.
Chenega Bay, Cordova, Tatitlek, Valdez, Whittier.

Fishing Vessels on Contract (March 2000)
Core group - 50.
Total contracted vessels - 350.

Prestaged Equipment
Hatcheries and Sensitive Areas - Lake Bay, Cannery Creek, Solomon Gulch, Main Bay, Sawmill Bay, Valdez Duck Flats and 10 Port of Valdez sensitive areas.
Others - Naked Island, Port Etches, Whittier, Cordova, Chenega Bay and Tatitlek.
 

Last updated April 18, 2008