Prince William Sound Environmental Milestones: from 1989 Disaster to Today
By Marcus Vance
The standard operating procedures for laden oil tankers navigating Prince William Sound today bear zero resemblance to the loose protocols of 1989. Modern environmental risk management dictates that every loaded crude carrier leaving Valdez Marine Terminal must be accompanied by two high-horsepower, tractor-style escort tugs through the Hinchinbrook Entrance into the open Gulf of Alaska.
Operated by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS), these state-of-the-art tugboats possess enough bollard pull to tether, steer, or halt a fully loaded supertanker should its primary steering or propulsion fail. Modern vessels are tracked by dual, redundant Vessel Traffic Service radar towers and mandatory satellite automatic identification systems. The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (RCAC), funded by industry under federal mandate but totally independent in its governance, employs local mariners, scientists, and civic leaders to inspect terminal infrastructure and audit spill response exercises on a continuous basis.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
