NEWS & UPDATES
April 5, 2021 - Building Partnerships to Protect Arctic Marine Wildlife from an Oil Spill
The Arctic region as defined by the U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 includes the “Great Circle Route.” This route is transited by thousands of large ocean-going vessels annually along the Aleutian Archipelago and supports billions of dollars in essential trade and commerce to and from the United States. This region further includes…
03/24/2021 - Op-Ed: Preventing the Next Exxon Valdez
There is a sad irony when you consider that the laws and regulations necessitated by the Exxon Valdez oil spill to protect the marine environment are not designed to accommodate the conditions that exist in Western Alaska and the Arctic today. Alaska’s coastline and environment were forever changed when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef on this day in 1989 – and the impacts of that spill reverberate today. It was in the aftermath of the spill that Congress enacted the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA 90, requiring ship operators to implement comprehensive systems to respond to an oil spill. Much like the system for tankers in Prince William Sound, the new regulations required the worst-case oil spill from any tank vessel to be covered with resources contracted from the private sector. However, the regime developed under this seminal law simply does not adapt to the challenging conditions that exist…
01/14/2021 - Joint Press Release – Marine Mammal Oil Spill Response Program Underway for Western Alaska
(Anchorage AK) The Alaska Chadux̂ Network (ACN) and the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) have finalized an agreement to develop and implement a program to respond to oil spill impacted marine mammals throughout Western Alaska, the U.S. Arctic, and Prince William Sound. The Agreement includes funding from ACN for ASLC to further develop oiled marine mammal response protocols and resources. In addition, the new program will involve opportunities to train, exercise and drill with ACN responders, including ACN partners in local communities, to support ASLC specialized veterinarians and technicians in the oil spill response environment in remote areas. “We have been working on leveraging our unique response systems into an oiled marine mammal response program that not only meets the requirements of various state and federal agencies but also of those companies who benefit from our oil spill preparedness and response capabilities,” said Buddy Custard, President / CEO of the Alaska Chadux̂ Network. “Our experience confirms…
11/16/2020 - Pioneering Safety: The Western Alaska Lightering Best Practices Committee
The Network initiated the Western Alaska Tanker Lightering Best Practices Committee in 2019, working in close partnership with the Alaska Chadux Corporation. Tank vessel lightering operations serve over 160 communities and villages in Western Alaska with products for essential heating and fueling. Millions of gallons of fuel are transferred from Ship to Barge and Ship to Ship in the offshore marine environment during the ice-free season for delivery to the coastal communities throughout the region. Each delivery is unique in the destination, draught restrictions, fuel type, facility capacity, environmental factors, and seasonality of ice. Protecting Alaska’s marine environment through a comprehensive oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response program is paramount for the mutual benefit of all tanker lightering operators. Developing a process to continually review lightering operations and establish mutually agreed to Best Practices and standards of care will enhance safe, efficient, and environmentally-sound tanker fuel transfer maritime operations in Western Alaska. The Committee leads…
10/12/2020 - Bristol Bay Oil Spill Exercise Emphasizes Importance of Swift Incident Response
Chadux supports the U.S. Coast Guard in validating Geographic Response Strategies for remote Alaska regions ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A joint oil spill response exercise conducted by the Alaska Chadux Corporation (Chadux) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in Bristol Bay has highlighted the importance and challenges of swift incident response in environmentally sensitive and remote regions of Alaska. Chadux supported USCG in planning for and conducting the annual exercise for oil discharge response under the USCG Sector Anchorage’s Federal On-Scene Coordinator authority and jurisdiction. This exercise met USCG requirements under the Ocean Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), and the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines, in addition to the USCG Arctic Strategy. The joint team of Chadux responders and U.S. Coast Guard personnel were deployed aboard the oil spill response vessel Ocean Liberty for five days from August 17 – 22,…
10/12/2020 - Dutch Harbor field deployment exercise tests key offshore oil response assets
Alaska Chadux Corporation conducts field deployment exercise near Dutch Harbor, Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Chadux Corporation conducted a field deployment exercise on August 15, 2020 in the vicinity of Dutch Harbor, Alaska to exercise its offshore oil spill response capabilities. Using the oil spill response vessel Ocean Liberty, under contract to Chadux from Paradigm Marine, the Chadux team deployed its Ocean Buster system. The NOFI Ocean Buster system is designed to for oil spill recovery operations in open oceans areas. The OSRV Ocean Liberty is the only fully dedicated oil spill response vessel based in Western Alaska at the port of Dutch Harbor, AK. To learn more about the OSRV Ocean Liberty, please visit Paradigm Marine’s website at www.paradigmmarine.com. “The Ocean Buster skimming systems is an impressive system involving several elements to safely deploy” said Chris Ellis, Chadux Response Supervisor. “Exercising with our responders, our VOO operators and the Paradigm crew is an important…
10/1/2020 - Network, Chadux Combine, Form Alaska’s Premier Oil Spill Prevention & Response Organization
October 1, 2020 ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska’s premier oil spill response organization and leading federal maritime regulation compliance provider announced today that they are combining operations under a new name to provide enhanced oil spill prevention and response programs. The Boards of the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) and Alaska Chadux Corporation (Chadux) voted in September to reorganize as the Alaska Chadux Network (ACN) to stabilize business, lower rates for member companies, and maintain a standard of guaranteed compliance with all federal and state maritime and shoreside fuel regulations within Northern, Central, and Western Alaska. “The Alaska Chadux Network brings together the best of two premier Alaska maritime and fuel facility environmental compliance organizations,” Chadux Board President Jeff Savage said. “This new organization provides our subscribers with guaranteed compliance with federal and state oil spill prevention and response regulations within Alaska, as well as enhanced oil spill prevention response services, lower…
09/24/2020 - Op-Ed: Celebrating the Mariners Who Keep Alaska Connected
By Network President & CEO Buddy Custard Today is World Maritime Day, a date set aside by the International Maritime Organization to recognize the seafarers and vessels who continue the centuries-old tradition of keeping the world afloat. During the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19, these men and women are especially deserving of our recognition and gratitude. As we grapple with balancing safety and reopening our economies, domestic and international shipping transports have kept vital supply chains intact for the goods we all depend upon — keeping our world connected. Shipping is the most efficient and cost-effective method of international transportation for most goods: it is also extremely dependable and facilitates commerce and prosperity worldwide. In Alaska, these facts are especially prescient: the Port of Alaska saw 4.3 million tons of fuel and cargo move through last year to 90% of our state’s population and supporting $14 billion in commercial activity. Suffice it to say, maritime…
05/21/2020 - Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network Receives Prestigious “Osprey Award” for Environmental Protection
U.S. Coast Guard recognizes Network’s outstanding achievements in marine environmental protection to support safe, sustainable shipping ANCHORAGE (May 21, 2020) – The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) has been awarded the Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Protection Award of Excellence from the United States Coast Guard. The Network received the top-level, prestigious Osprey Award for its innovative programs, commitment to its participants and Alaska, and proven results in protecting the marine environment throughout Prince William Sound and Western Alaska. The Coast Guard only selects one organization nation-wide every two years to receive the coveted Osprey Award. “On behalf of our Board, staff, enrollees, and our many partners, I am humbled and honored to accept this distinguished award,” Network President and CEO Buddy Custard said. “This recognition from the Coast Guard is a testament to the quality of our programs and our ongoing efforts to support safe, sustainable shipping in Alaska…
02/14/2020 - Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network, Alaska Chadux Corp. to Share Leadership
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (February 14, 2020) – The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) and the Alaska Chadux Corporation (Chadux) announced today that the two organizations will share leadership in a drive to improve oil pollution response and coordination across Alaska. Network President and CEO Norman “Buddy” Custard has assumed the role of General Manager of Chadux in addition to his current role, and will oversee both organizations. “This transition will be seamless for our respective members, and will reinforce both organizations’ commitment to protecting Alaska’s maritime environment,” Mr. Custard said. “Both the Network and Chadux remain focused on supporting oil spill compliance and response needs as we move forward to create stronger, more efficient organizations to serve our members and our state.” “For years, Buddy has demonstrated a deep understanding of the issues facing the Alaska maritime community, and we are pleased to see him expand his work through his new position,”…
05/24/2018 - Informational Circular 2018-02: OSRV Ocean Liberty Arrives in Dutch Harbor
The OSRV Ocean Liberty, a purpose-built oil spill response vessel, has arrived at its new homeport in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. The 166-foot vessel is owned and operated by Paradigm Marine and has been contracted to support the Alaska Chadux Corporation – the Network’s supporting Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO). The OSRV Ocean Liberty along with the OSRV Sea Strike homeported in Kodiak, Alaska bring tremendous oil spill response capabilities to vessels enrolled in the Network’s APC programs.