No Oil Spills in Alaska in 2003

Published Jul 15, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

State regulators and industry officials were excited to announce that no oil was spilled in the 450 tanker voyages that moved more than 330 million barrels of North Slope crude in 2003. The turn around is attributed to modern tankers and better management. It is the first time since 1977, when crude first began being transported from the Trans-Alaska pipeline, that no oil was spilled. Much of the credit is being given to double-hull tankers, which were mandated by OPA 90, which includes the total phase-out of single-hull tankers in the U.S. "It's a very notable achievement," said Larry Dietrick, Director of Spill Prevention and Response for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Anil Mathur, President of Alaska Tanker, Company, based in Beaverton, Oregon, said avoiding spills is a matter of good equipment, diligent inspections, and rigorous management. The four Alaskan operating tanker companies, Alaska Tanker, BP, Polar Tankers, and SeaRiver Maritime are to be awarded the Legacy Award from the Pacific Coast/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force.