SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) recently added to its well-earned collection of safety awards when the Alaska State Legislature honored the organization for its consistently outstanding record.Alaska State Rep. Vic Kohring, State Senate President Ben Stevens and Speaker of the House John Harris presented ATC President and CEO Anil Mathur with a declaration commending the company for its safety-related efforts and achievements. Joining them at the May 4 ceremony in the Territorial Senate Chamber in Juneau, Alaska were Alaska Commissioner of Labor Greg O’Claray, Alaska House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, SIU Representative Tracey Mayhew and representatives from the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA).
Based in Beaverton, Ore., ATC operates six Seafarers-crewed vessels including three of the four new Alaska Class tankers built in San Diego (the Alaskan Frontier, Alaskan Explorer and Alaskan Navigator). The fourth of the new ships is scheduled for delivery near the end of this year.
The commendation from the legislature “honors ATC and its employees for achieving the highest levels of safety and environmental performance while carrying Alaska North Slope crude oil from Valdez, Alaska to refineries in Washington, California and Hawaii. This outstanding record is unsurpassed,” notes the certificate.
The document also points out, “ATC is the first tanker operator in the Alaska trade with its fleet comprised entirely of double-hulled ships…. ATC has also strongly supported an Alaskan hire policy since its inception in 1999.
“Since 2002, ATC ships have safely carried 43.6 billion gallons of crude oil with just 27.2 gallons of hydraulic oil escaping to the sea (as a consequence of storm damage),” the award text continues. “Furthermore, ATC has completed nine million man-hours of operation without anyone being so hurt that they were unable to return to work the next day (zero lost time injuries). This covers the period from January 2002 through February 2006 and is based on OSHA reporting standards.
“The United States Coast Guard recognized ATC’s outstanding performance in 2004 when the company was awarded the Benkert ‘Osprey’ Gold Award. This award was given in recognition of ‘outstanding achievement in marine environmental protection that goes beyond mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.’ The Osprey is the highest environmental award given by the Coast Guard.
“ATC maintains a single focus on operational excellence and for this has been recognized by its stakeholders including BP, its unions, the Prince William Sound Citizens Advisory Council, and every environmental regulatory agency in the State.
“The members of the Twenty-fourth Alaska State Legislature extend their appreciation to Alaska Tanker Company for its superb record of safe operation, environmental stewardship, and its community outreach program in Alaska.”
Harris, Stevens and Kohring signed the document, while dozens of additional cosponsors’ names also are listed.
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