Crowley celebrates Alaska safety milestone

FEBRUARY 4, 2016 – Crowley Maritime Corporation’s tanker escort and docking services group in Valdez, AK, is celebrating over seven million man hours and more than six years since logging its last Lost Time Injury (LTI).  

In addition, the company has not had an OSHA recordable case in over two million man hours while performing tanker assist and escort work for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.  

In 2015, the company logged over one million man hours while safely escorting 236 tankers through Prince William Sound, transporting 185 million barrels of oil in one of the harshest environments in the world.

“We’ve partnered with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for more than 25 years to provide the safest, most comprehensive spill prevention and response services available for tankers traveling through Prince William Sound,” said Rocky Smith, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager, petroleum distribution and marine services.  “This achievement is a testament to the keen focus on safety our professional mariners and Valdez shore side support team displays.  They are relentless in their pursuit of zero harm to people, property and the environment.”

In Valdez, Crowley has a contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) under which it provides tug escorts for tankers traveling through Prince William Sound to and from the Valdez Marine Terminal, assuring safe passage, even under the most extreme winter weather conditions. The tugs also provide docking and undocking services at the oil product loading terminals.

In 2015, Crowley continued its support of SERVS by planning and supervising classroom and field training exercises for the spring and fall fishing vessel training program.  This training involved over 400 boats and 1,700 attendees, who gained familiarity with the equipment, tactics, and resources needed to quickly and professionally respond to an oil spill incident in Prince William Sound.

Crowley’s nearshore response barge 500-2, and company-owned tugs visited the communities of Cordova, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Kodiak and Valdez in further support of the training.    

Additionally in 2015, Crowley tug Endurance provided transportation and accommodation for the Prince William Sound Traveling Health Fair – a community outreach program supported by Alyeska