On September 1st, 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard extended the Network’s APC for both tank and nontank vessels through December 31, 2017. The Network’s APC covers tank vessels carrying OPA-90 regulated cargoes throughout the Captain of the Port Zone Western Alaska (except Cook Inlet) and nontank vessels carrying OPA-90 regulated oils as fuel for main propulsion or as a secondary cargo in all subareas in the Captain of the Port Zone for Western Alaska and Prince William Sound. The Network’s nontank APC is the only APC approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for all Western Alaska and Prince William Sound subareas. With this reapproval, enrollment in the Network APC will continue to provide the greatest compliance flexibility for nontank vessels sailing anywhere in Western Alaska, including the great circle route along the Aleutians Islands and the Prince William Sound COTP geographic specific area. For questions regarding coverage and enrollment options with the Network, please contact Jim Butler, Managing Director…

Originally reposted in  Alaska Business Monthly, 9/10/2015 ANCHORAGE – The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (“Network”) was recently awarded the 2015 Marine Environment Protection Award by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA). The award recognizes the Network’s successful environmental performance and improvement plans, innovative programs that exceed minimum regulatory compliance, and its long-term, substantial impact. “The Network’s continued success is due in large part to the support of the maritime industry over the past several years,” said Jim Butler, Managing Director. “The Network’s board reflects the industry we serve and we are all committed to programs that provide the most flexibility and service for participating operators throughout Western Alaska.” The Network is an Alaska-based nonprofit corporation established in 2011 to provide services for vessels operating in Western Alaska and Prince William Sound. Tank and nontank vessel operators must comply with U.S. Coast Guard pollution and spill prevention regulations, which had been virtually impossible…

Fleet Enrollment is now possible with Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network. Complete a new Part I Agreement with Schedule A listing all your fleet ships and you will receive a 5% discount on fees. You will be issued a Certificate of Participation effective January through December of each calendar year, which will automatically renew in December for the upcoming calendar year. Payments are not required until a fleet ship enters Alaskan waters. When this happens, the Network APC Monitoring Center will notify Enrollment and an invoice will be generated for that ship. The fee for that ship will cover a 12 month period from the date of the invoice, which may include part of another calendar year. In those cases, the ships will automatically be covered by the new certificate issued for that year. The Network APC covers all of Western Alaska and all subareas where ships may transit or operate. On a typical…

Protection of Alaska’s vast marine environment has a new oil spill response equipment hub in Adak Alaska, thanks to vessel participants in Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network’s (Network) Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) program for Western Alaska. Alaska Chadux personnel traveled to Adak on April 26th – 30th to inspect newly purchased and delivered oil spill recovery equipment and establish Chadux’s newest equipment hub.  Objectives for this visit included operating the new equipment, identifying local resources and providing oil spill response training to local Chadux member company employees. Chadux’s newest hub and the equipment it contains is funded using a grant from the Network. The   Network is funded by owners and operators of vessels enrolled in the Network’s APC.  These participants pay fees for federal regulatory compliance options while operating in the Aleutian Islands and Western Alaska and a large portion of these fees go to enhance oil spill response capabilities. As a result of the Network’s…

May 2015 Newsletter Volume 1 The Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) provides vessels operating in Alaska best management practices and capabilities that exceed environmental regulations. Because most of Alaska is either remote, inaccessible, or both, compliance with standard federal pollution response regulations is not possible.  Recognizing the special needs of Alaska, the regulations provide for alternative planning measures in order to meet the federal requirements.  Without these Alternative Planning Criteria (APC), it would be impossible for vessel operators to meet the spill response requirements. The Network was created by Alaskans working in the Alaska maritime industry who share a common goal of reducing risks to the Alaskan environment.  For non-tank vessels, the Network APC provides regulatory compliance in Captain of the Port Zones for Western Alaska and Prince William Sound.  For tank vessels, the Network APC provides regulatory compliance for Captain of the Port Zone Western Alaska, excluding Cook Inlet. These APC provide the…

Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) recently learned the U. S. Coast Guard has approved a second nontank vessel Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) for vessels “ transiting the Aleutian subarea of the Western Alaska COTP zone” (1Call Approval; USCG, May 14, 2015).  The Network APC continues to provide compliance for vessels that both transit or operate in the Aleutian subarea. Despite confusing and misleading information that has circulated regarding this recent decision by the U. S. Coast Guard, the Network continues to provide APC compliance for ALL enrollees and for ALL areas used by shipping traffic on great circle routes through Alaska.  This includes the area south of Kodiak and east of the Aleutian subareas which requires APC coverage for many vessels that travel to or from U. S. ports along the Great Circle Route. Network enrollees continue to have access to the largest cache of pre-staged response equipment in Alaska, staged in 13 response…

Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Network) is now providing federal regulatory compliance services to hundreds of vessels and is gearing up to expand and improve services this year. The Network remains the only practical and cost effective alternative for full OPA 90 compliance in Western Alaska and Prince William Sound. The support and encouragement as started up is very much appreciated – from our enrollees and partners, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. In 2014, the Network: Implemented enrollment system accommodating over 2,000 vessel operators Demonstrated 24/7 ability to monitor vessel compliance and maintain quality communications Enhanced vessel tracking capability with additional terrestrial AIS sites Developed and implemented Emergency Information Communications System (EICS) Funded OSRO acquisition and staging of 2 large vessel booming packages and a Western Alaska Rapid Response equipment package Expanded the Network’s Board of Directors Delivered regular updates to USCG on Networks’ effort to implement and comply…

The U. S. Coast Guard recently approved a second nontank vessel APC for vessels transiting the Aleutian subarea within the Western Alaska Captain of the Port Zone. So, why choose the Network? The Network is a nonprofit company focused on reducing the risk of marine casualties and oil spills.  We do not profit from enrollment fees and we do not profit from marine casualties. The Network represents vessels’ owners and operators interests seeking compliance solutions to the USCG pollution prevention regulations found in 33 CFR 155. The Network’s Board of Directors consists of representatives of the owners and operators of the vessels who participate in the APC. The Network was established by and is staffed with Alaskans who are maritime professionals and have over a century of practical experience with Alaska’s unique maritime issues. The Network’s APCs for tankers and nontank vessels (NTV) were developed in a full and open process with procedures and refinements…

Over the course of 2014, the Network proved capable of expediting enrollment requests from around the world within 24 to 48 hours. In order to better serve Network participants, the Network is revising its enrollment process by transitioning to an online system for 2015 to more effectively support the needs of participants. The Network remains confident in our ability to continue to enroll participants efficiently through this new enrollment process. Computer system transitions can be strenuous however we have strived to make this process as seamless as possible for Network participants. We appreciate your patience in implementing this new system. The Network is enthusiastic for the upcoming year and certain that over time this process will streamline future enrollments for all participants. With respect to the International Group P&I Clubs review of the Network NTV enrollment application, the Network’s amended APC enrollment forms and terms are in final review with acceptance anticipated promptly. Enrollment Fees…