State salutes TOTE for environmental leadership

Petroleum News Alaska

Last month, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Michele Brown awarded this year’s final Commissioner’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Waste Reduction to Totem Ocean Trailer Express for TOTE’s design and construction of its new Orca class vessels.

“The new Orca class ships are exceptional in their environmental protections,” Brown said. “The two new vessels, to be in use in Alaska by 2002, are double-bottomed and all the fuel is stored internally in double-sided tanks that are in place to prevent spills in the case of an accident. These designs meet or exceed any state or federal requirement.”

TOTE President and CEO Robert Magee said, “We are proud to accept this award and proud of our record in Alaska. There are many features that set these vessels apart, for example: All trash will be contained on board and disposed of in Tacoma by a licensed contractor; They have two rudder steering systems, greatly reducing the chance of steering failure; Propulsion is diesel electric for fuel efficiency and minimal hydrocarbon emissions. with our new ships.”

The completed vessels will cost more than $300 million. The company that is building these vessels, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., will begin construction of BP’s new Alaska class double-hulled tankers when they complete TOTE’s ships.

“By highlighting environmental leadership, we hope to show that pollution prevention isn’t just about protecting our environment and public health, it is also about good business,” Brown said. “Reducing the risk of an oil spill means TOTE can apply for lower insurance rates. All of the fuel tanks have new redundant monitors and alarms, which reduces the chance of losing fuel while loading the tanks. We challenge other large seagoing vessels in Alaskan waters to follow TOTE’s leadership.”

Last month TOTE, a privately-owned Alaska corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary, marked by the inaugural sailing of the S.S. Great Land from Seattle on Sept. 10, 1975, northbound to the Port of Anchorage.