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Busby Island Bay Response
Project Plan
SITREP #3- January 4, 2010 @ 1400 hrs
Pathfinder Status
The PATHFINDER is still moored at the Valdez Container Terminal (VCT). The tug is boomed and there has been no visible sheen since it was docked on December 29. There is 24 hr. security and spill response equipment has been provided by our oil spill removal organization Chadux.
Emerald Environmental Services has removed all of the remaining fuel oil and the tanks were vacuumed dry. In addition, the oil slops and dirty waste oil have been removed. The vessel engine room bilges have also been pumped dry.
On December 30 Ian Hogben, an independent Marine Surveyor, conducted a survey of the internal fuel and water tanks as well as the hull above the water line. The surveyor recommendations for towage of the tug will be provided in his written survey report to be provided this week. Based on the surveyor’s verbal recommendations the following work on the tug has been initiated:
• Global diving was contracted and they will arrive p.m. on January 4th. They will do temporary patching of the main water tank and tank 1 port as well as secure the openings to the keel coolers. Global also has the capability for high resolution underwater video if it is needed.
• Preparation for arresting the movement of the rudders.
• Activation of the reduction gear clutches for locking of the propeller shafts
• All fuel oil tanks have been secured and vents are being sealed.
• The after generator was converted to radiator cooling to eliminate the thru-hull water cooling line.
SERVS response gear and other operational equipment and supplies were transferred to the replacement tug Guardian. The tug Guardian was response ready at 2400 hrs on January 1, 2010. Additional electronic communication equipment will be transferred to the Guardian on January 5th.
The spill volume from the PATHFINDER grounding was finalized by the IMT environmental unit and notification provided to the Coast Guard and ADEC on January 4th.
Pathfinder Towage
Crowley is still in the process of preparing a towing plan for repositioning the PATHFINDER to a repair facility, location not yet determined. The tow plan will be approved by the United States Coast Guard prior to further movement of the vessel.
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The boat surveyor’s Dubairole in its investigation and reporting.
ReplyDeleteBecause my principal experience as a surveyor over the years has been
as an underwriters’ surveyor, my comments in this paper are
understandably slanted towards insurance claims but many of the
principles will not be lost on surveyors appointed by other principals.
The role of independent marine surveyors
It is well established that a surveyor’s principal role is to establish
the facts as they relate to nature, cause and extent (three words
with which I am sure you are all very familiar) when instructed to
carry out a damage or loss survey but, of the three, we are
principally concerned in this paper with cause/causation.
However, before becoming immersed in discussion on this
fundamental role I am going to remind you briefly that a surveyor
has at least two other important functions.
A marine insurance policy will often contain a clause specifically
alerting the assured to their responsibilities to take appropriate
steps to mitigate a loss and to claim on third parties.
The assured is required to do both of these as a condition of
acceptance of any claim under the policy but in any event, under
English law, it a common law requirement for a claimant to
mitigate a loss, as it is under the law of many other countries.
Mitigation of loss
Hull and machinery Surveyors, from their wide experience of marine claims in one form
or another, are often in a very good position to advise a claimant on
both their need to mitigate a loss, and also in many cases on the
best method of doing so.
However, surveyors must bear in mind that it is not their role to
actually involve themselves with the appropriate action unless
otherwise instructed by their principals.