Fracture found at ballast tanks

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Coast Guard said Feb. 11 that the S/R Bernicia departed the Valdez Marine Terminal late in the morning after receiving approval to sail from the Coast Guard.

A light sheen was observed at 2:56 a.m. Feb. 10 inside the boom at berth 5 of the VMT while the tank vessel S/R Bernicia was in the later stages of completing loading and deballasting operations.

An internal inspection of the vessel revealed a three-quarter inch fracture between the No. 5 port cargo tank and the No. 4 port segregated ballast tank. A joint statement by the U.S. Coast Guard, DEC and Alyeska said the fracture did not affect the integrity of the vessel’s hull.