TAPS Tanker Escort and Emergency TowingTAPS Tanker Escort and Emergency Towing

Chris Jones

PWSRCAC

January 24, 2008

May 2007 RCAC Board of Directors position for2007 tanker c-plan renewal:

2 escorts for laden tankers using ETT & PRT only

Hinchinbrook Entrance tug should always be a PRT

Full response capability without prevention waivers

No more than 2 laden tankers in the system at once

May 2007 RCAC Board of Directors Five Year Plan:

a)All tugs in fleet will be “enhanced”

b)Hinchinbrook Entrance tug must be highlymaneuverable with high bollard pull and salvagecapability

c)One-way zone in the Valdez Arm

d)Dedicated fire-fighting vessel for Port Valdez

Remaining Risk Factors:

Valdez Arm Traffic Separation Scheme – one way zone

Lack of reliable oceanographic data – S/B Pride incident

Inadequate BAT analysis for escort system in 2007 C-plan

Industry/Regulator goal of compliance versus improvement

OPA ’90 single hull tanker / escort requirement phase out

RATIONALE:RPG March ‘07letter to ADEC listedas mitigationmeasure

VERP statespreferred maneuveris “assist the turn tocontrol the tankerwithin 3000 feet”

Pilot support forice mitigationmeasure

Return of cruiseships summer ’08

IMO violation toenter TrafficSeparation Scheme

0.5 nm

0.5 nm

October 05, 2007 October 05, 2007 –– Outbound tanker, pilot boat and escorts Outbound tanker, pilot boat and escorts in Vessel Traffic Separation Zone in Vessel Traffic Separation Zone

December 10: S/B Pride encountered winds in excess of 120 knots which caused two large waves to break over the bow. Damage occurred to the valve control station…

Middleton Island: 60+ knots

Seal Rocks: 56 knots

Barrier Jet formation

AOOS/AEFF

……the Department has determined that an overall escort vesselthe Department has determined that an overall escort vesselsystem evaluation, rather than an evaluation of system evaluation, rather than an evaluation of individualindividual vesselsvessels,,is the correct approach for determining BAT for theis the correct approach for determining BAT for the escort system.escort system.Plan holders have satisfied the regulatory requirements for BATPlan holders have satisfied the regulatory requirements for BATanalysis of the escort vessel system by expanding their analysisanalysis of the escort vessel system by expanding their analysisthat compares this system to that compares this system to others in the worldothers in the world..(2007 ADEC Tanker C-plan Findings Document)

Tug Escort BAT Analysis:

• Only single hull vessel is also largest tanker- SeaRiverLong Beach (21 years old; retirement date 1/10)

• Double hulls do not prevent mechanical and human error

• ATC new builds: Complete loss of power and propulsion,rudder fractures, anchor failures, bearing failures

• Polar new builds: Fuel pump and power problems,unreported spills, collisions, plea bargains, three yearfederal probation

The occurrence of fatigue damage on TAPS vessels, however, willThe occurrence of fatigue damage on TAPS vessels, however, willcontinue to be a problem due to the inability of structural designers tocontinue to be a problem due to the inability of structural designers toremove all stress concentrations. Many structural components on shipsremove all stress concentrations. Many structural components on shipshave and will continue to have, fatigue lives of only several years.have and will continue to have, fatigue lives of only several years.

1990 USCG TAPS Tanker Structural Failure Study

TAPS tanker fleet:TAPS tanker fleet:

November 13, 2002 November 13, 2002 PrestigePrestige oil spill off Spain oil spill off Spain

Will it take another spill?Will it take another spill?

8/07 Original RFP advertised for HE and PWS

11/07 Project team rejects three proposals

12/07 Project manager drafts 2 new proposals

1/08 Hinchinbrook Entrance RFP advertised

2/29/08 Bids due for HE Vessel Analysis

3/24/08 HE RFP Award announcement

4/08 Advertise Tug Escort RFP

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:

Goal of Hinchinbrook Goal of Hinchinbrook Entrance Analysis: Entrance Analysis:1. Determine the operabilityenvelope for PWS, Alert, and Theriot class tugs.

2. Advise TAPS shippers, APSC, federal and stateregulators on the strength of current prevention and response

system.

What kind of vessel do we need?What kind of vessel do we need? Minimum 130 tons of bollard pull required to tow a laden 125,000 dwt tanker offshore

20-50% reduction in thrust when pitching in heavy weather

Double-drum towing winch with auto-tensioning

11,000-12,000 horsepower at a minimum

4 propulsion engines driving port and starboard propellers through combining gears

Bow thruster or azimuthing thruster required

Question: What is the cost to clean up an oil spill? At least seven times the annual operating cost of the rescue vessel

International Tug & Salvage - Sept/Oct 1999

Contributing Entities:Contributing Entities:

Tug Escort Project Team

Port Operations & Vessel Traffic System Committee

Oil Spill Prevention & Response Committee

Contingency Plan Project Team

Board of Directors

Stan Stephens*