Servs vessels commended by U.S. Coast Guard after near collision with fishing boat

Petroleum News Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard has commended the captain and crew of two Ship Escort-Response Vessel System escort vessels for “superb professionalism” while escorting a loaded tanker out of Valdez.

Alyeska Pipeline Service. Co. said that on July 10, the Chevron Mississippi had just passed Entrance Island at the head of the Valdez Narrows when it came upon the fishing vessel Orion setting its seine net across the tanker’s traffic lane. The fishing vessel failed to respond to repeated radio contacts on Channels 13, 16 and all of the commonly used working frequencies. Coast Guard rules require that vessels fishing in the vicinity of traffic lanes monitor VHF Channel 13.

The pilot on the Chevron Mississippi called for the Alyeska Servs tethered escort tug Aware to “pull back at 80 tons” and directed the second escort tug Guard to the bow to act as a buffer and steady up the ship’s heading if needed.

The Servs tug crews brought the outboard laden tanker Chevron Mississippi to a complete stop within two ship lengths and held the tanker’s position safely until the fishing vessel cleared its gear from the tanker’s path allowing it to resume its transit out of Prince William Sound.

Alyeska said that information broadcasts from the U.S. Coast Guard and “security” broadcasts by the tanker let mariners in the area know that a tanker was approaching the Valdez Narrows. According to a written report of a VMSC meeting on the night of July 10, the fishing vessel “finally came up on the radio after the tanker sounded the danger signal.”

The Pilot of the tanker allowed the ferry Bartlett to precede him in the Narrows to let the more maneuverable vessel “run interference for him.”

The report said the Bartlett transited without problems. The tanker followed closely behind. Weather and visibility were good.

The report said that the captain of the fishing vessel was not monitoring any radio frequency; that he said he “had a hundred things to do and couldn’t listen to the radio, too.”

The fishing vessel Orion was ordered into Valdez by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port for an evaluation. An investigation by the Coast Guard is still under way, Alyeska said July 18.

Peyton Coleman, commanding officer of the Marine Safety Office in Valdez, presented letters of commendation July 13 to the captains and crews of the tanker and two escort tugs.

He told the crews involved, “You have an extraordinarily capable ship, but any ship is only as good as the professionals who operate her. Without your heroic response, this incident would have had a very different and perhaps catastrophic outcome. You should take pride in knowing you are part of the best escorting system in the world, bar none.”

In separate letters to the Crowley Marine Services Inc. escort captains and crews Coleman said it was “clear that the time and dedication you put into training has paid off. You have developed the skills and confidence in your equipment to react correctly in real situations like this, and your abilities have not gone unnoticed by others. Pilots, tanker masters and drill observers frequently express how impressed and confident they are with Crowley escort crews. This incident has further demonstrated the superior seamanship of the crews and the capabilities of the tugs. You should take pride in knowing you are part of the best escorting system in the world, bar none.”