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Coast Guard to establish Arctic presence Cutter to deploy off northern Alaska as Shell possibly starts summer drilling; planning advances for Arctic port, new icebreaker Wesley Loy For Petroleum News
The U.S. Coast Guard plans to position one of its best cutters in the Arctic Ocean this summer, an unprecedented deployment meant to coincide with Shell’s planned exploratory drilling offshore Alaska.
Adm. Bob Papp, commandant of the Coast Guard, talked about the Arctic mission in his State of the Coast Guard address on Feb. 23 in Alameda, Calif. In the background loomed the 418-foot Bertholf, the first of several sophisticated “national security cutters” being built for the Coast Guard.
The Bertholf is the cutter that’s coming to Alaska’s Arctic.
Papp spoke of the “emerging Arctic frontier,” and how diminishing ice cover is increasing the need for a Coast Guard presence.
“In the summer, an entire new ocean is emerging,” Papp said. “The promise of shorter shipping routes, petroleum discoveries and tourism are propelling an increase in human activity.”
The cutter deployment comes not only as Shell readies to drill in Arctic waters, but as the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers carry out a three-year study on establishing deep-draft Arctic ports to support industry, government or military operations.
Cutter is ‘mobile infrastructure’ Although the Coast Guard is “navigating uncertain and stormy seas” due to budget cuts and other challenges, Papp said the Arctic demands attention.
“This summer exploratory oil drilling will likely commence in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas,” said Papp, according to the written text of his speech. “In this part of Northern Alaska, we currently have no shore-based infrastructure, such as hangars for our planes, bases for our boats or barracks for our crews.
“So, we’re going to send mobile, versatile infrastructure to the Arctic — the National Security Cutter Bertholf. Bertholf has worldwide communications and state-of-the-art command and control systems — better than any shore station. She also brings the added advantage of being able to launch and recover helicopters and small boats. Bertholf will be supplemented by our ice-capable seagoing buoy tenders.
“We feel prepared to take on these challenges because we have adaptable cutters and aircraft, and proficient crews. We will employ them on a seasonal basis, while we continue to define our requirements for permanent Arctic infrastructure.
“The Coast Guard is unique — we have the experience to participate in, and lead where appropriate, the development of our National Arctic strategy. But the imperative for expanded Coast Guard capabilities in the Arctic is now — not 20 years from now.”
Arctic ports study Momentum continues to build toward possibly establishing one or more ports somewhere along the Arctic coast to support the mining and oil and gas industries, Coast Guard and military operations, shipping and research.
Alaska legislators recently received an update on a three-year Arctic ports feasibility study that’s just beginning.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Transportation on Dec. 8 signed a cost-sharing agreement for the $3 million study.
The study has two phases, a Corps information paper said. First, all potential port sites north of Nunivak Island, southwest of Bethel, will be identified. Then the study will focus on individual sites during the final two years.
A list of potential sites is expected to be ready by the end of September, the Corps paper said.
The paper, along with a DOT overview provided to legislators, noted that Arctic coastal waters generally are shallow, with few naturally occurring deepwater sites. Dredging would be necessary to create and maintain a deep-draft port with a minimum depth of 35 feet, and marine structures would need to withstand significant ice forces.
No one port site likely will be ideal for all needs, so multiple ports might be needed, DOT said.
The agency suggested building the Arctic ports through public-private partnerships, where users rather than the public bear the costs. Such partnerships are used commonly in Canada, DOT said.
Icebreaker funding A situation that’s drawn considerable attention recently is the hobbled state of the nation’s icebreaker fleet. At present, the Coast Guard has only one operational icebreaker, the Healy. Other, heavier duty icebreakers are old and out of service.
Recently, the Healy broke ice through the Bering Sea to enable an emergency fuel delivery to Nome.
In his speech, Adm. Papp mentioned that mission as a “moment of pride” for the Coast Guard.
Alaska political leaders believe more icebreaker capability is necessary as activity increases in the Arctic.
On Feb. 13, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, said President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal includes some icebreaker funding.
“It appears this year’s dramatic fuel delivery to Nome got the White House’s attention because the President’s budget provides the U.S. Coast Guard $8 million to plan and design a new sorely needed icebreaker for America’s Arctic,” said Begich, who chairs a Senate Commerce subcommittee with oceans and Coast Guard oversight.
Begich added: “Developing Arctic facilities to advance Arctic oil and gas development, create Alaska jobs and invest in our local communities has always been one of my top priorities.”
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