Alyeska heightens security, evacuates Valdez Marine Terminal

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Tanker loading at the Valdez Marine Terminal resumed Sept. 12 after Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. heightened security on the trans-Alaska pipeline system and later evacuated the Valdez Marine Terminal of all except critical operations personnel at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The actions Sept. 11 were in response to the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. At 5 p.m. Sept. 11, Dan Hisey, chief operating officer for Alyeska, said the threat to the Valdez Marine Terminal did not materialize, and that Alyeska was in the process of resuming full staffing.

“Operationally,” Hisey said, “Alyeska has ramped up security and focused on protecting our people, the terminal and the pipeline.”

The company said it would not elaborate on the steps it was taking to heighten security.

Hisey said that Alyeska had been in constant contact with the military, the FBI and the Coast Guard throughout the day, and would continue to maintain that level of security until there is agreement that it is safe for the company to return to normal operations.

The pipeline remained in operation.

Alyeska said that military officials considered a KAL airliner inbound to Anchorage a threat to the terminal, and the Coast Guard requested that Alyeska evacuate the terminal. Loading operations were shut down and tankers were moved to sea.

The airliner was escorted to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, by military planes.

Alyeska received approval from the Coast Guard to resume tanker loading operations at the terminal at 12:30 a.m. Sept. 12, and loading operations began with the tankers Overseas Chicago and B/T Alaska.

Alyeska said Sept. 12 that it remains at a heightened level of security.