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The Development and 5-year Outcomes of the Western Alaska Tanker Lightering Best Practices Committee
DescriptionThe Western Alaska Tanker Lightering Best Practices Committee (Committee) was established in April 2019 to foster a productive exchange of information among tanker operators and stakeholders including marine pilots, regional eNGOs, key consumers, and State and Federal regulators by establishing and promoting best practices and standards of care for essential fuel deliveries in remote regions of Western Alaska. The collective goal is to protect the marine environment. The Committee is organized and coordinated by Alaska Chadux̂ Network, an Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO), and comprised of the tanker lightering operators, tank barge transporters, tug companies, Alaska Marine Pilots, Alaska Maritime Agencies, United States Coast Guard (USCG), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey and National Weather Service, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Ocean Conservancy, Kawerak, and the Committee continues to add more stakeholders each year. The three principal marine fuel distributors in the region where tank vessels deliver fuel are Crowley Fuels Alaska, Delta Western Petroleum, and Vitus Energy.

There are over 160 remote communities and villages in Western Alaska, serving 75,000 Alaskans. Those communities and their residents are dependent on fuel to provide heat and energy to support life in the harsh climate of the austere Arctic environment. Over the last decade, changes to environmental regulations, transportation infrastructure, and refining capacity have driven fuel distributors to modify the logistics for sourcing the fuel required by the region. The result is increased use of foreign-flagged tank vessels that are then lightered to tank barges for transport to remote communities across Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic. In 2023, over 140 million gallons of refined product were safely transferred via tank vessel ship to ship transfers of cargo in the offshore environment of Western Alaska during the ice-free season.

Protecting Alaska’s marine environment through a proven oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response program is paramount for the mutual benefit of all tanker lightering operators, regulators, and the communities that rely on fuel deliveries. Five years since its creation, comprehensive best practices have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible tanker fuel cargo transfer operations in Western Alaska. This ever-expanding group illustrates the power of partnership through collaboration, cooperation, and a common interest in Alaska’s pristine marine environment.
Author
Event Type
Paper
TimeWednesday, May 15th4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Location291-292
Tags
Preparedness