Valdez Harbor News

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s petroleum distribution group in Alaska says it has been recognized by Shell Oil Products US as the 2013 Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) wholesaler of the year. As Shell’s sole wholesale distributor in Alaska, Crowley faces unique challenges including remote locations, harsh environments, a diverse product and customer base, limited supply options and large fluctuations in seasonal demand. The company currently services 17 Shell-branded retail stations, three of which are owned and operated by Crowley.

Crowley's Ocean Rangers Have Protected Alaska's Environment Since 2008. The State of Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has announced that it has awarded a contract to Crowley Maritime Corporation to continue administering the State of Alaska's Ocean Ranger Program, effective November 2011. The contract directs Crowley to recruit, hire, train and organize the logistics of placing Ocean Rangers on board cruise ships each season to act as independent observers and to assure compliance with federal and state environmental health, sanitation and safety requirements.

Crowley's ship assist and escort services group has been awarded ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system used for its operations in Valdez, Alaska. This certification is applicable to Crowley's provision of ship management and operation of tugboats in ship assist and escort services as well as response barges and oil spill response vessels. Crowley provides these services in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound for the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Ship Escort / Response Vessel System (SERVS). requirements for a total quality environmental management system. externally certified. Evaluations.

In many ports across the country, competition among tugboat operators is intense. The combined Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach is one such competitive environment for tug operators. Three companies vie for business that includes about 6,000 ship arrivals a year. Many of the companies utilize new tractor tugs to guide these ship movements. Foss Maritime, Crowley Marine and Millennium Maritime operate over a dozen modern tugs. Any slight edge in efficiency gives one company a competitive edge. For example, Foss Maritime recently placed the Halter Marine-built Marshall Foss into service. The 6,200 hp tug measures 98 x 40 x 16 ft. "This vessel was purpose built as a harbor tug," said Barry Baldwin, business director for Foss Maritime. Baldwin is located in Long Beach.

Crowley Marine Services recently accepted the delivery of Alert - the first of a trio of new 140 ft. 10,192-hp Prevention and Rescue Response Tugs (PRT's) under contract with the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for use in both Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska. The general purpose PRT's are powered by twin Caterpillar 3612B engines generating the combined 10,192-hp driving two Kamewa Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters. The tugs are also equipped for firefighting, emergency response and oil spill recovery. Recent sea trial proved Alert was able to generate a certified bollard pull of 300,000-lbs., and a free running speed in excess of 16 knots. The entire PRT trio was designed by Guido Perla & Associates, and was constructed at Dakota Creek Shipyard in Anacortes, Wash.

Crowley Marine Services received delivery of Tan'erliq - the second of two new 10,192 hp tractor tugs from Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary, Vessel Management Services. Measuring 155 ft. in length, Tan'erliq and sister vessel Nanuq are the largest and strongest of the cycloidal tugs. The tugs, which together form the Prince William Sound Class, have specifically designed and developed form CMS under contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for tanker escort and spill response operations in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Crowley Maritime is sending the second of its big new 10,192 hp Prince William Sound class tanker escort tugs, Tan'erliq, north to Alaska this month. It will be following in the wake of the first boat, Nanuq, which went north earlier this year. Both vessels have been designed with cold weather and rough seas in mind, and each features an innovative new deck heating system. "We were looking for new and innovative technology," said Maynard Willms, vice-president of Vessel Management Services, Inc (VMS), the Crowley subsidiary charged with designing and overseeing construction of the new tugs. According to Willms, after two years of searching…

While Z-Drive can still be considered a "revolutionary" design trait of today's tugboats, engineers aren't resting on their laurels. New technical standards being introduced are testimony to designers' creativity and imagination; and the functionality is improved, as well. The use of tugs with either Z-drive or VSP propulsion have led to much faster, safer and more efficient ship-assist operations, without fail, says Robert Allan, of the marine engineering firm, Robert Allan Ltd. In fact, he adds, some tug companies with Z-drive tugs have had insurance premiums lowered because of the reduced risk of them damaging an attended ship with better tugs. But in no way have tugs evolved to their highest achievable level. The birth of such innovative designs was not unexpected, says Allan.

Crowley Marine Services (CMS) took delivery of Nanuq, the first of two 153-ft., 10,192 hp enhanced tractor tugs from Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary Vessel Management Services. Nanuq and her sister vessel Tan'erliq have been specially designed and developed for CMS under contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for tanker escort operations in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska. Because of the intended service environment, these vessels were designed to demanding specifications as the most powerful cycloidal propulsion tugs ever built, capable of a bollard pull of 208,000 lbs., and a vessel speed of 14.5 knots. In sea trials, the vessel was found to deliver in excess of 210,000 lbs. of bollard pull and a top vessel speed of just under 16 knots.

Crowley Marine Services (CMS) has announced a contract to provide three new 140-ft. prevention and response tugs (PRTs) for the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for use in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska as part of its on-going fleet expansion and revitalization program. The PRTs are general purpose tugs powered by twin Caterpillar 3612B engines generating 10,192 hp driving two Kamewa Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters. The vessels will have oil spill recovery and storage capability for up to 43,000 gal. of recovered oil. Design features include accommodation for up to 16 persons, Schuyler fendering, a Markey TDS-40 towing winch, Step Warmfloor heated decking, and two oil spill recovery skiffs with boom.

Crowley Marine Services recently accepted the delivery of Alert — the first of a trio of new 140 ft. (42.6 m), 10,192-hp Prevention and Rescue Response Tugs (PRT's) under contract with the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for use in both Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska. The general purpose PRT's are powered by twin Caterpillar 3612B engines generating the combined 10,192-hp driving two Kamewa Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters. The tugs are also equipped for firefighting, emergency response and oil spill recovery. Recent sea trial proved that Alert was able to generate a certified bollard pull of 300,000-lbs., and a free running speed in excess of 16 knots.