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The Network’s 2014 Year in Review Shows Strong, Growing Service

May 13, 2015

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 proposed by owners, operators, stakeholders, state government institutions and the USCG.
  • The Network’s APC covers all of Western Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska and the Arctic.
  • The Network’s APC uses Best Practices and risk reduction measures not required by 33 CFR 155.
  • The Network established and provides risk reducing sailing routes and approved passes for safer transits.
  • The Network provides the only publically vetted, time-tested, USCG approved, APC.
  • The Network’s APC has been highly praised and commended by the USCG as “exceeding their expectations”.
  • The Network provides real-time monitoring 24/7 by a live watch, providing:
  • Operators proactive assistance in complying with APC Operating Guidelines.
  • Early detection of operating anomalies and prevention of potential risky operations.
  • Early notification of Qualified Individuals(QI), Salvage & Marine Firefighting contractors(SMFF), owner/operators and the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) as appropriate.
  • Validation of vessel compliance with APC Operating Guidelines.
  • Monitoring capabilities for all of Western Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska and the Arctic, most of which is available real-time via terrestrial AIS receivers.
  • Continuous liaison with the USCG for approval of deviations from the Vessel’s Response Plan and/or the APC documentation of actual vessel track line through the operating area.
  • Documentation of all communications with the vessel, QI, SMFF, USCG, owners and other parties.
  • Immediate identification and location of tugs of opportunity for QI, SMFF, USCG, owners use as appropriate.
  • The Network’s APC are aligned with the goals of the Aleutian Islands Risk Assessment which supports best practices and safe operating procedures.
  • Participation in the Network provides access to the largest in-region and in-state inventory of spill response equipment located at 13 major equipment hubs throughout Alaska.  Additional equipment will be available in expansion hubs.
  • Network participants retain their preferred SMFF providers in their vessel response plans.
  • Enrollment fees are used to enhance spill response equipment in-region for easier, faster access by all participants.  To date, over $3M of new oil spill response equipment has been purchased to enhance response capabilities.
  • Enrollment fees have funded three new land based AIS receivers providing greater real-time tracking ability and more flexibility in approving deviation requests.

The Network’s NTV enrollment agreement conforms to the International Group of P&I Club standard.