The biggest vessel built specifically for oil skimming in North America has arrived in Alaska to work for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. in Prince William Sound.
Measuring 123 ft long by 31 ft wide, the vessel carries 1,320 ft of containment boom and can skim as much as 2,000 bbl/hr. It can hold as much as 1,310 bbl of recovered oil.
Built in Maine, the $5.5 million vessel is the latest addition to Alyeska's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (Servs).
Alyeska set up the Servs fleet to escort oil tankers and provide first response to a tanker spill around the clock shortly after the Exxon Valdez tanker oil spill in Prince William Sound (OGJ, Aug. 14, 1989, p. 27). However, Alyeska started efforts to build the big skimmer before the spill.
JBF Scientific Co. designed the vessel.
Unlike other large capacity skimmers, Valdez Star does not pull water aboard during collection. A conveyor belt set at an angle moves oil under the water where it is skimmed into the vessel's hold.
After stopping briefly in Juneau, the vessel will travel to its permanent home in Valdez.
Alyeska will time charter the Valdez Star from Crowley Maritime.
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