Prince William Sound Tanker Escort
The post Exxon Valdez escort regime: 33 CFR Part 168, the two escort vessel requirement, the 2013 extension to double hull tankers, and SERVS.
Prince William Sound in Alaska is one of two areas where United States federal law requires tanker escort. Under 33 CFR Part 168, made under section 4116(c) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, laden tankers of 5,000 gross tons or more carrying a pollution category I petroleum cargo must be escorted by at least two escort vessels.
All single hull tankers were covered from the rule’s publication at 59 FR 42968 on 19 August 1994. Double hull tankers were brought in for Prince William Sound only by the amendment at 78 FR 50339 of 19 August 2013, made under section 711 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The federal standard is performance based: the escorts must be able to tow the tanker at 4 knots and hold it against a 45 knot headwind, hold it on a steady course against a 35 degree locked rudder at 6 knots, and turn it 90 degrees with a free swinging rudder at 6 knots within the tanker’s own hard over advance and transfer. The rule names no tug type and no power rating.
The full article will cover the federal rule, the Alyeska Ship Escort and Response Vessel System that delivers it, the state contingency plan layer, and the geography of the escort transit.