2013 HSC Summit DraftNotesFINAL - Oil Spill Task...

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WEST COAST HARBOR SAFETY COMMITTEE SUMMIT SUMMARY NOTES October 2930, 2013 Napa, California SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS: Harbor Safety Committee Panel: CAPT Richard Goben – Chair, San Diego HSC John Strong – Chair, Los Angeles/Long Beach HSC Lynn Korwatch – Chair, San Francisco HSC John Veentjer – Chair, Puget Sound HSC Eric Burnette – Vice Chair, Lower Columbia Region HSC Suzie Howser – Chair, Humboldt Bay HSC John Gillespie – Chair, Grays Harbor HSC Andrew Harvey – Chair, Port Hueneme HSC Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Staff: Thomas M. Cullen, Jr., Administrator; Ted Mar, Marine Safety Branch Chief; Mike Coyne; Al Storm; Jack Prescott; CAPT Jeff Cowen; Reuben Macaspac Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force Sarah Brace, Hilary Wilkinson; Also attending: Gerry Wheaton, NOAA; Ray Keehe, Norton Lily; Tim Petrusha, Humboldt Bay Harbor District; Leslie Pearson, Pearson Consulting; David Pearson, Pearson Consulting; Alison Allali, Harley Marine; Amy Wirts, USCG; John Berge, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association; Greg Stump, USCG Sector SF; Jason Tama, USCG Sector SF; Alan Steinbrugge, SF Marine Exchange; John Doucette, West Way Terminals; Linda Scourtis, Bay Conservation and Development Commission; Matthew Peake, Phillips 66; Bob Gregory, Foss Maritime; Brad Westlund, AMNAV. Harbor Safety Committee Panel members (left to right): Sarah Brace, Tom Cullen, Suzie Howser, Andrew Harvey, Richard Goben, Eric Burnette, Lynn Korwatch, John Gillespie, John Veentjer

Transcript of 2013 HSC Summit DraftNotesFINAL - Oil Spill Task...

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WEST  COAST  HARBOR  SAFETY  COMMITTEE  SUMMIT  SUMMARY  NOTES  October  29-­‐30,  2013  Napa,  California  

   

SUMMIT  PARTICIPANTS:  Harbor  Safety  Committee  Panel:  CAPT  Richard  Goben  –  Chair,  San  Diego  HSC  John  Strong  –  Chair,  Los  Angeles/Long  Beach  HSC  Lynn  Korwatch  –  Chair,  San  Francisco  HSC  John  Veentjer  –  Chair,  Puget  Sound  HSC  Eric  Burnette  –  Vice  Chair,  Lower  Columbia  Region  HSC  Suzie  Howser  –  Chair,  Humboldt  Bay  HSC  John  Gillespie  –  Chair,  Grays  Harbor  HSC  Andrew  Harvey  –  Chair,  Port  Hueneme  HSC    Office  of  Spill  Prevention  and  Response  (OSPR)  Staff:  Thomas  M.  Cullen,  Jr.,  Administrator;  Ted  Mar,  Marine  Safety  Branch  Chief;  Mike  Coyne;  Al  Storm;  Jack  Prescott;  CAPT  Jeff  Cowen;  Reuben  Macaspac    Pacific  States/British  Columbia  Oil  Spill  Task  Force  Sarah  Brace,  Hilary  Wilkinson;      Also  attending:  Gerry  Wheaton,  NOAA;  Ray  Keehe,  Norton  Lily;  Tim  Petrusha,  Humboldt  Bay  Harbor  District;  Leslie  Pearson,  Pearson  Consulting;  David  Pearson,  Pearson  Consulting;    Alison  Allali,  Harley  Marine;  Amy  Wirts,  USCG;    John  Berge,  Pacific  Merchant  Shipping  Association;  Greg  Stump,  USCG  Sector  SF;  Jason  Tama,  USCG  Sector  SF;  Alan  Steinbrugge,  SF  Marine  Exchange;  John  Doucette,  West  Way  Terminals;  Linda  Scourtis,  Bay  Conservation  and  Development  Commission;    Matthew  Peake,  Phillips  66;  Bob  Gregory,  Foss  Maritime;  Brad  Westlund,  AMNAV.    

 Harbor  Safety  Committee  Panel  members  (left  to  right):  Sarah  Brace,  Tom  Cullen,  Suzie  Howser,  Andrew  Harvey,  Richard  Goben,  Eric  Burnette,  Lynn  Korwatch,  John  Gillespie,  John  Veentjer  

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   2  

 DAY  1:  OCTOBER  29  The  California  Harbor  Safety  Committee  Chairs  convened  their  annual  meeting  with  OSPR  from  9  a.m.  to  4:30  p.m.  on  October  29  2013;  other  West  Coast  Harbor  Safety  Committee  Chairs  were  invited  to  the  summit.  Mike  Coyne,  Oil  Spill  Prevention  Specialist  of  OSPR,  facilitated  the  meeting.    1.  Introductory  Comments  • Mike  Coyne  welcomed  the  panel  and  audience  and  announced  that  the  meeting  was  co-­‐hosted  by  

OSPR  Marine  Safety  Branch  (MSB)  and  the  Pacific  States/British  Columbia  Oil  Spill  Task  Force.    • Mike  introduced  Tom  Cullen,  Administrator  of  OSPR,  who  welcomed  everyone  and  thanked  OSPR’s  

Marine  Safety  Branch  for  hosting  the  Summit.  He  introduced  Sarah  Brace,  Executive  Coordinator  of  the  BC/States  Task  Force.  He  noted  that  the  BC/States  Task  Force’s  Annual  Meeting  held  in  Seattle  in  September  was  a  success  and  helped  him  better  understand  emerging  trends  around  energy  transport.  Two  issues  that  OSPR  is  currently  focused  on  include  1)  changes  in  crude  oil  transport  by  rail  and  2)  the  need  to  look  more  carefully  at  emerging  spill  prevention  and  response  technologies.  

• Sarah  Brace,  Executive  Coordinator,  BC/States  Task  Force,  provided  updates  about  their  recent  activities,  including  1)  publication  of  the  2013  Pacific  States/British  Columbia  Oil  Spill  Task  Force  Annual  Report,  and  2)  increased  focus  on  emerging  issues  such  as  changing  trends  in  oil  movement,  derelict  and  sunken  vessels,  and  the  state  of  the  science  of  dispersants.  She  noted  that  the  BC/States  Task  Force’s  website  has  a  page  devoted  to  Harbor  Safety  Committees  and  that  she  is  working  to  identify  additional  ways  that  OSTF  can  continue  to  support  their  work.  

• Each  HSC  chair  introduced  himself/herself.    2.  Overview  of  FY  2011/12/13  Activities:  Accomplishments,  New  Best  Maritime  Practices,  Issues,  Concerns,  Comments,  and  Recommendations    LA/LONG  BEACH  CHAIR  CAPT  JOHN  STRONG    

• LA/LB  HSC  is  working  with  Gerry  Wheaton  at  NOAA  to  include  more  information  about  their  activities  in  the  Coast  Pilot  

• Container  crane  placement  is  emerging  as  a  problem  due  to  larger  ships  • The  bunkering  DVD  has  been  helpful  –  Captain  Strong  would  like  to  see  the  entire  West  Coast  

move  in  the  same  direction.  The  DVD  ensures  a  level  playing  field  on  rules  and  regulations  • Tongas  are  emerging  as  a  problem  and  the  LA/LB  HSC  has  been  tapped  to  help  keep  an  eye  on  

the  issue  • The  LA/LB  Harbor  Safety  Plan  update  is  underway.  They  plan  to  make  it  a  “living”  document  by  

posting  those  updates  not  requiring  a  vote  on-­‐line  immediately.  Environmental  representatives  are  working  on  the  environmental  chapter  so  that  the  link  between  prevention  and  pollution  is  clearer.  

• The  most  important  achievement  of  the  LA/LB  HSC  recently  has  been  to  facilitate  a  successful  Marine  Oil  Terminal  Engineering  and  Maintenance  Standards  (MOTEMS)  presentation  for  CA  oil  terminals.          

 SAN  FRANCISCO  CHAIR  LYNN  KORWATCH      

• Recently,  the  SF  HSC  reevaluated  their  operations  and  developed  new  Best  Practices  as  a  result  of  an  incident  involving  the  Overseas  Reymar,  which  struck  a  tower  on  the  Bay  Bridge.        

• The  America’s  Cup  went  very  smoothly,  which  was  a  big  achievement  and  a  good  reflection  of  the  work  of  the  SF  HSC.  

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   3  

• A  recent  issue  that  has  emerged  involves  clearance  of  large  container  vessels  under  the  Bay  Bridge.  An  air  gap  sensor  funded  by  CalTrans  will  be  installed  in  several  weeks  to  address  it.          

• Workgroup  updates:  - Tug:  developed  a  BMP  for  planning  and  executing  towing  operations  that  involve  “dead”  

ships.  - Ferry  Operations:  Developed  guidance  for  vessel  of  neutral  assistance.  - Navigation:    worked  with  the  Port  of  Oakland  to  install  a  visibility  sensor  (funded  by  

USCG).  Two  additional  sensors  are  being  pursued  with  OSPR.        - Dredging:  has  been  meeting  continually  with  National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric  

Administration  (NOAA)  and  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  (ACOE)  to  identify  areas  that  need  additional  sounding.  

- Prevention  through  People:  San  Francisco  HSC  Continues  to  work  on  small  vessel  advisory  for  sailboats  and  kayaks.  

 PUGET  SOUND  CHAIR  JOHN  VEENTJER      

• There  has  been  an  increase  in  participation  in  the  Puget  Sound  HSC,  with  more  buy-­‐in  to  the  their  work  than  in  the  past  3-­‐5  years.  

• Most  of  their  focus  has  been  on  completing  a  Vessel  Traffic  Risk  Assessment  study,  an  effort  resulting  from  a  lawsuit  involving  BP–Cherry  Point.  The  study  includes  data  from  WA  and  BC.  Results  so  far  show  that  there  has  been  far  less  traffic  in  2010  than  in  2005  due  to  bigger  ships  and  changing  demands  for  cargo.  Vessel  traffic  has  decreased  for  20  years,  with  600  fewer  ships  in  2011  than  in  1999.          

• They  are  developing  a  new  website.  • They  continue  to  update  their  Work  Plan  and  are  in  the  process  of  making  it  a  living  document.        • One  of  the  challenges  facing  this  HSC  is  the  ever-­‐changing  marine  industry  –  specifically,  the  

transport  of  oil  by  rail,  as  well  as  increases  in  the  use  of  Liquified  Natural  Gas  (LNG).  He  specifically  noted  that  Totem  Ocean  Trailer  Express  (TOTE)  and  the  WA  State  Ferry  System  are  converting  some  or  all  of  their  fleets  to  LNG.      

• Additional  issues  they  face  include  volunteer  membership  dues,  consistent  participation  and  getting  people  to  attend  meetings.    

 SAN  DIEGO  CHAIR  RICH  GOBEN          

• Lessons  learned  regarding  the  Japanese  tsunami’s  impacts  to  San  Diego  bay  were  highlighted  –  specifically;  San  Diego  did  not  face  one  single  event  but  a  4-­‐day  event,  with  water  “sloshing”  back  in  forth  in  the  harbor  throughout  this  timeframe.  

• Several  issues  were  highlighted,  including:  - Seaplanes:  The  Captain  of  the  Port  asked  the  HSC  to  look  at  seaplane  activity.  It  is  a  

confusing  regulatory  issue  as  seaplanes  are  considered  vessels  on  water,  but  not  in  the  air.  The  issue  remains  unresolved.    

- Cruise  ships:  The  industry  is  down;  San  Diego  is  not  a  deep  water  port  - Navy  pier:    this  needs  to  be  rebuilt  to  accommodate  larger  ships.  This  has  the  potential  

to  disrupt  marine  life.    - Bait  barges:  Their  current  location  is  challenging  for  various  reasons  (e.g.  proximity  to  

the  naval  fuel  pier)  and  proposals  are  underway  to  figure  out  where  best  to  locate  them.  - Lobster  fishermen  -­‐  are  not  observing  shipping  lane  rules  - Yachts  –  numerous  large  yachts  are  coming  into  the  bay  and  their  owners  are  unaware  

that  nontank  vessel  contingency  plans  are  required.  SD  HSC  is  working  to  get  something  into  the  Coast  Pilot  to  help  address  this.    

• They  are  working  with  head  of  safety  from  the  Coronado  Hospital  to  plan  an  evacuation  event.  

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   4  

 LOWER  COLUMBIA  REGION  VICE-­‐CHAIR  ERIC  BURNETTE  (STANDING-­‐IN  FOR  ROMAN  GEIGLE)    

• Their  HSC  has  been  working  closely  with  ACOE  to  install  3  new  buoys  in  the  Columbia  River  to  address  the  problem  of  ships  being  unable  to  clear  the  Columbia  River  bar  during  marginal  conditions  due  to  low  sulfur  fuels.    Anchorages  continue  to  be  limited  despite  the  3  new  buoys,  and  they  are  pursuing  funding  from  ACOE  for  an  additional  8-­‐10  more.      

• A  PowerPoint  Presentation  on  Columbia  River  Vessel  Arrival/Departure  Analysis  was  provided.    

HUMBOLDT  BAY  CHAIR  SUZIE  HOWSER    • Best  practices  for  small  craft,  large  ships  and  barges  were  included  in  the  2012  Harbor  Safety  

Plan.    • All  fuel  in  Humboldt  Bay  is  received  via  barges.    • The  Humboldt  Emergency  Plan  is  underway.  It  is  a  huge  effort  that  FEMA  just  signed  off  on  and  

will  ultimately  result  in  a  600-­‐page  plan.  It  is  being  undertaken  because  of  Humboldt  Bay’s  status  as  the  only  deep-­‐water  port  in  the  Cascadia  subduction  zone.  Emergency  planning  is  needed  so  that  if  an  earthquake  occurs,  access  to  the  bay  for  delivery  of  water  food,  and  medical  supplies  can  happen.            

• The  Scripps  West  Coast  buoy  program  is  in  jeopardy  because  ACOE  funding  is  now  being  routed  through  the  CA  Department  of  Parks  and  Recreation  (CA  Parks  and  Rec)  instead  of  Boating  &  Waterways.    CA  Parks  and  Rec  is  having  problems  releasing  funds  to  Scripps  because  some  buoys  are  outside  of  California  and/or  the  U.S.    

• There  are  dredging  issues  due  to  lack  of  funding  from  ACOE.        • Another  issue  noted  was  shoaling  around  buoy  9,  creates  waves  and  swells  that  can  create  

problems.  • The  Humboldt  HSC  is  pre-­‐approving  letters  that  can  be  quickly  sent  to  ACOE  in  the  event  that  

dredging  issues  surface  during  the  winter  season.    • The  Harbor  District  acquired  a  pulp  mill  with  a  lot  of  pickling  liquors  still  on  site.    There  are  

transportation  issues  in  terms  of  moving  the  liquors  to  recycling  locations  off-­‐site  and  EPA  has  been  involved.  A  contract  has  been  signed  with  Harley  Marine  to  transport  the  liquors  to  Washington  –  it  should  be  completed  by  March  2014.    

 GRAYS  HARBOR  CHAIR  JOHN  GILLEPSIE  

• Grays  Harbor  HSC  is  the  only  one  operating  rail-­‐to-­‐coast  in  Washington  State.  They  have  a  diversity  of  marine  cargos,  including  logs,  autos,  dry  bulk,  bulk  liquid,  and  wood  chips.  The  Port  of  Grays  Harbor  has  grown  significantly  in  recent  years,  with  $200  million  in  private  investments  since  2008.    

• They  are  seeing  a  projected  growth  in  the  number  of  vessels  and  so  are  trying  to  beef  up  the  HSC.  There  are  currently  9  formal  members.  They  have  determined  membership  criteria,  their  charter,  and  have  drafted  their  Standards  of  Care.  John  asked  for  input  by  other  HSC  chairs  about  their  approach  to  drafting  the  SOCs  and  beefing  up  the  HSC,  specifically:    

- Is  their  approach  to  the  SOCs  correct?    - What  authority  are  other  HSC’s  relying  on  for  enforcement  of  SOCs?    - What  entities  have  voting  authority?    - How  are  other  HSCs  funded?  (Currently,  Grays  Harbor  is  100%  volunteer  funded).    

 PORT  HUENEME  CHAIR  ANDREW  HARVEY  

• Port  Hueneme  is  a  Navy-­‐controlled  port    • Two  incidents  that  Port  Hueneme  HSC  is  currently  dealing  with  include:  

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   5  

- An  ongoing  issue  involving  sailboats  during  Wednesday  night  races  in  the  Channel  Islands.  Sailboats  are  using  the  Channel  Island  Yacht  Point  as  a  turning  buoy,  which  has  angered  shippers.  

- An  inbound  ship  blacking-­‐out  at  the  sea  buoy.    

3.  OSPR’s  vessel  risk  analysis  program  and  database    Mike  Coyne  provided  a  presentation  on  how  OSPR  has  developed  its  risk-­‐based  database.  The  approach  is  based  on  the  assumption  that  every  vessel  arriving  in  CA  poses  a  risk.  Their  objectives  include:  

• Quantify  the  risk  • Develop  a  database  that  addresses  four  categories  of  risk  including:    

1. Compliance  with  OSPR  regulations  2. Age  of  vessel  3. Vessels’  past  behavior  (loss  of  propulsion,  loss  of  steering,  groundings,  pollution  

incidents)  4. Company  performance  index  

• Focus  OSPR’s  resources  on  low  performing  vessels  and  operators.  Additional  risk  factors  that  help  identify  low  performers  include:  

- Name  changes  - Hull  type  - Number  of  Port  State  Control  boardings  

• Break  the  chain  of  events  that  cause  pollution  incidents  • They  are  trying  to  mimic  much  of  what  USCG  is  already  doing.  He  extended  thanks  to  Gary  

Toledo,  Reuben  Macaspac,  Nora  Maxfield  and  Adeline  Brown  for  helping  to  put  this  system  together.  

• There  were  945  OSPR  boardings  in  2012,  82  of  which  were  targeted  by  the  risk  assessment  program.    

 Questions/Comments:    

1. How  many  staff  members  are  needed  to  maintain  the  database?  Response:  It’s  a  huge  effort.  Maintenance  and  updating  database  with  new  figures  takes  two  students  a  full  summer.  

2. Are  you  only  looking  at  oil  on  water?  What  is  the  over  arching  risk  you  are  trying  to  identify?  Response:  Those  vessels  with  higher  potential  for  spilling  oil  or  pollution.      

4.  Report  on  FY  2011/12/13  HSP  Recommendations  Implemented;  Recommendations/Issues  Needing  Resolution    Humboldt  By  HSC  -­‐  Al  Storm  

• An  overview  of  OSPR’s  role  relative  to  Harbor  Safety  Committees  was  provided.  OSPR  looks  at  recommendations  from  HSCs,  and  OSPR  is  obligated  under  the  Harbor  Safety  Act  to  implement  them.  OSPR  is  limited  in  the  amount  it  can  spend  on  implementing  the  recommendations.    

• OSPR  also  makes  recommendations  of  its  own  to  improve  navigational  safety  to  prevent  oil  spills.  Examples  include  recommendations  to  ACOE  for  dredging  operations,  USCG  for  navigational  aids.  Recently,  they  made  a  recommendation  to  Scripps  to  maintain  their  buoy  program.    

• Recent  recommendations  that  OSPR  has  reviewed  from  Humboldt  HSC  include:  - A  request  to  petition  USCG  to  ensure  that  Port  Authorities  are  being  notified  properly    - A  request  to  help  the  county  with  their  emergency  operations  plan.  

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- Port  Authority  requested  to  be  notified  when  a  Captain  of  the  Port  order  was  given  to  a  vessel  alternating  its  movement.    OSPR  was  tasked  to  petition  the  Coast  Guard.    The  Port  of  Humboldt  Bay  helped  complete  the  task.  

- Recommendations  requiring  OSPR  funding  remain  unimplemented,  e.g.,  PORTS  and  dredging.  

- Chevron  is  funding  PORTS  O&M  for  5  years.    Would  like  OSPR  to  find  O&M  funding  after  that.    Low  probability  that  this  will  occur.  

 San  Francisco  HSC  -­‐  Jeff  Cowan  The  SF  HSC  is  working  on  a  variety  of  issues  including:  

• Designating  anchorages    • Dredging  –  an  important  issue  in  SF,  ACOE  has  announced  that  the  expense  of  dredging  

operations  will  result  in  smaller  ports  ceasing  to  function    • Bay  Bridge  Delta-­‐Eco  span  issues  • Dead  ship  tows  –  they  have  developed  BMPs  on  this  issue  • Outfall  from  Overseas  Reymar  –  temporary  supplemental  guidelines  recommended  the  use  of  

the  Alpha-­‐Bravo  or  Delta-­‐Eco  span  of  the  Bay  Bridge.    Ships  are  not  departing  Oakland  when  visibility  is  less  than  .5  miles.      

• They  conducted  a  successful  tabletop  exercise  to  determine  towing  capabilities  when  ships  are  DIW  offshore  (dead  in  the  water).  Distance  of  tugs  from  the  bay  to  offshore  locations  of  DIW  ships  is  a  concern.  

Port  Hueneme  HSC  –  Reuben  Macaspac  • A  recommendation  from  Port  Hueneme  HSC  to  OSPR  is  to  fund  PORTS  on  a  statewide  basis    

 LA/Long  Beach  HSC  –  Mike  Coyne  

• It  has  been  a  quiet  year  for  LA/LB  HSC  with  no  real  pressing  issues.  • There  is  a  new  process  for  the  LA/LB  HSC  Plan  approval  process  (flow  diagram  previously  shown  

by  John  Strong)  • Recommendations:  

- PORTS  system  funding  is  still  needed  (this  is  an  ongoing  recommendation  that  has  not  yet  been  addressed)  

- Need  for  pleasure  craft  operators  to  practice  safer  boater  practices  - Best  practices  for  bunkering    

 San  Diego  HSC  –  Jack  Prescott  

• An  LED  light  survey  has  been  completed  by  NOAA  and  USCG  • Like  the  other  HSCs,  PORTS  and  dredging  are  major  issues.  He  noted  that  OSPR  has  looked  at  

both  issues  and  has  concluded  that  the  current  funding  structure  is  unsatisfactory.  

• The  issue  of  seaplanes  was  brought  to  the  HSC  in  2009  when  a  large  seaplane  company  wanted  to  establish  an  operation  in  San  Diego  Bay.  Environmental  groups  were  concerned  because  of  migratory  sea  birds.    Questions  regarding  jurisdictional  authority  continue,  with  the  FAA  saying  that  USCG  regulates  them  once  they  land  on  water.  However,  communication  issues  between  planes  and  boats  are  a  problem;  SD  HSC  is  trying  to  figure  it  out.    There  is  no  VTS  in  San  Diego  because  vessel  traffic  is  largely  military.  Security  is  conducted  by  the  Harbor  Police,  Military  Police  and  closed-­‐circuit  cameras.  

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• Membership  has  been  an  issue  –  a  quorum  hasn’t  been  possible  to  achieve  for  several  years.    It  is  difficult  to  replace  departing  members.  The  California  Coastal  Commission’s  ongoing  involvement  was  noted  as  a  positive  presence,  providing  continuity.    

5.  Round  Table  Discussion  Tom  Cullen  introduced  the  round  table  discussion  and  posed  the  following  question  to  HSC  chairs:  how  well  are  new  technologies  to  prevent  oil  spills  being  utilized?  He  noted  that  a  small  but  vocal  NGO  (Marin  County  Environmental  Action  (MCEA))  recently  criticized  OSPR  for  failure  to  achieve  best  achievable  protection  using  best  available  technologies.  Three  specific  requests  made  by  MCEA  of  OSPR  include:  1)  improving  the  use  of  offshore  response  tugs  (look  at  PNW  as  a  model),  2)  take  the  lead  on  outlawing  dispersants  and  3)  conduct  more  unannounced  equipment-­‐deployment  drills  in  the  shipping  channels.  OSPR  has  responded  to  them  both  in  writing  and  in  person.      He  noted  that  OSPR  hosts  a  biennial  technology  conference  and  posed  the  question  as  to  whether  they  should  make  it  an  annual  meeting  and  increase  the  emphasis  on  prevention  (it  is  currently  focused  on  response  technologies).  He  also  asked  if  a  blue  ribbon  panel  should  be  convened  to  evaluate  and  make  recommendations  about  best  achievable  technology.        Responses  from  HSC  chairs  on  the  above  questions:  

• Lynn  Korwatch  -­‐  The  AIS  system  has  become  robust.    Alaska  uses  every  technology  they  can  get,  including  satellite.  They  have  vessels  subscribe  to  this  system  to  avoid  collisions,  stay  on  route  etc.  

• Gerry  Wheaton  –  Gary  Toledo  was  working  on  an  emerging  technology  document  that  can  be  updated  to  help  move  the  topic  forward.  

 Other  questions  asked/issues  raised  by  the  panel  

• Loss  of  Propulsion  incidents:  Is  there  a  technology  that  can  help  with  loss  of  propulsion  incidents  resulting  from  fuel  switching?  Response:  some  cruise  ship  companies  are  using  a  scrubber;  USCG  noted  they  are  not  seeing  many  loss  of  propulsion  incidents.    

• Standards  of  Care  –  OSPR’s  value  on  this  issue  was  noted    • An  incident  involving  a  tanker  being  cut  off  by  an  off-­‐duty  LA  fireman  on  a  small  craft  was  raised.  

It  was  impossible  to  get  information  about  the  incident  after  the  fact  and  a  request  for  increased  transparency  was  made.  

- John  Veentjer  shared  that  VTS  data  analyzed  so  far  shows  that  90%  of  the  problems  on  Puget  Sound  involve  fishing  vessels  and  whale  watching  vessels.  

- Lynn  Korwatch  noted  that  SF  HSC  has  both  recreational  and  fishing  interests  represented  on  their  committee  and  they  are  very  vocal  about  their  colleagues  causing  problems.  SF  HSC  has  developed  a  strong  relationship  with  the  environmental  community.    

 6.  Day  1  Summary  –  Takeaway  and  follow-­‐up  Sarah  Brace  provided  a  recap  of  the  day,  including:  

• She  will  share  information  from  the  meeting  with  BC/States  Task  Force  members  • She  shared  an  idea  for  how  the  BC/States  Task  Force  can  further  support  the  work  of  the  Harbor  

Safety  Committees  –  to  create  case  studies  from  each  of  the  HSC’s  to  post  on  the  BC/States  Task  Force’s  website.  This  would  provide  an  opportunity  to  share  issues  and  lessons  learned  from  the  various  HSCs,  (e.g.,  risk  assessment,  tsunami,  HSP  revision  streamlining,  etc),  products  and  other  HSC  news.  

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DAY  2:  OCTOBER  30    1.  Ted  Mar,  Marine  Safety  Branch,  OSPR  –  Harmonization  of  Local  Bunkering  BMPs  into  a  Regional  Bunkering  Safety  Video    Ted  provided  an  overview  of  a  non-­‐regulatory  approach  to  achieve  bunkering  BMPs  –  specifically,  a  Bunkering  Safety  video  that  was  recently  developed  with  the  BC/States  Task  Force’s  support.  Bunkering  BMPS  are  only  an  issue  for  two  California  HSCs-­‐  LA/LB  and  SF.    Highlights  of  the  presentation  include:  

• The  transfer  of  fuel  into  a  vessel  requires  safety  diligence,  crew  training  and  compliance  with  state  and  federal  laws.  A  480-­‐gallon  bunkering  spill  in  2009  was  the  impetus  for  the  bunkering  laws.    

• HSCs  develop  Best  Maritime  Practices  for  bunkering  • The  video  is  the  result  of  a  West  Coast  work  group  that  primarily  involved  CA  and  WA.  The  CA  

version  is  based  on  an  old  WA  state  bunkering  video  –  the  original  producers  (Maritime  Training  Services)  were  hired  to  produce  the  new  one.  The  video  is  owned  by  the  BC/States  Task  Force  and  is  a  good  example  of  collaboration.    

• There  have  been  zero  bunkering  spills  since  2011.    Questions/comments:  

• Is  the  video  on  YouTube?  Response:  Yes  • Has  this  migrated  to  other  regions  in  the  US,  such  as  the  Gulf  or  the  East  Coast?  Response:  not  

sure  • A  discussion  regarding  the  best  distribution  method  for  the  video  occurred.  There  are  several  

distribution  limitations  –  including  the  ability  to  send  and  receive  emails  or  faxes  on  ships,  or  to  make  or  receive  telephone  calls.  The  best  way  is  to  go  directly  to  the  owners  or  operators  of  the  shipping  lines.    FOSS  Maritime  has  made  about  500  copies  and  distributed  it  to  all  of  their  tank  barge  captains  –  it  has  been  a  very  good  tool  and  is  now  shown  in  safety  pre-­‐transfer  meetings.  The  cost  is  minimal  compared  to  the  benefit  of  having  educated  crews.  Face  to  face  pre-­‐bunkering  meetings  are  now  common  practice.    

 2.  Sherry  Lippiatt,  NOAA  Marine  Debris  Program  –  Grant  from  the  Japanese  Government  for  Clean-­‐Up  of  Tsunami  Debirs;  Update  on  Debris  Movement    Sherry  is  the  California  Regional  Coordinator  for  NOAA’s  marine  debris  program  and  leads  the  marine  debris  monitoring  project  for  UC  Santa  Cruz.  Her  program  is  regionally  based  and  focuses  on  prevention,  research,  and  removal.  Her  presentation  focused  on  a  grant  from  the  Japanese  government  to  clean  up  tsunami  debris.  Highlights  include:  

• The  Japanese  government  provided  $5  million  to  west  coast  U.S.  states  to  help  clean  up  tsunami  debris.  Funding  was  dispersed  through  grants  to  AK,  WA,  OR,  CA  and  HI.  States  can  request  additional  funding  as  needed.    

• An  estimated  5  million  tons  of  debris  washed  out  to  sea;  it  is  likely  that  70%  sank  right  away,  leaving  1.7  million  tons  remaining  floating.    

• There  are  numerous  challenges  involved  with  cleanup,  including:  the  size  of  the  ocean,  a  lack  of  an  accurate  estimate,  dispersal  rates,  weather,  forecasting  difficulties  and  media  misrepresentation.  

• NASA  and  NOAA  satellite  services  coordinated  on  the  effort  to  detect  the  debris’  dispersal.  After  1  month,  no  debris  could  be  detected.  

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• They  are  also  using  remote  sensing  techniques  and  have  looked  at  a  400  square  km.  Nothing  has  been  detected  through  satellite  detection.  Factors  responsible  for  debris  movement  include  wind  and  currents.    

• It  is  extremely  difficult  to  forecast  the  movement  of  debris;  there  was  a  lot  of  inaccurate  information.  Since  2011  there  have  been  1800  official  reports  of  debris;  only  35  items  could  be  confirmed  to  originate  from  the  tsunami.  

• Despite  media  reports  and  public  concerns,  the  chances  that  tsunami  debris  is  radioactive  is  highly  unlikely  due  to:  

- Debris  emanated  from  an  area  that  was  much  larger  than  where  radioactivity  occurred    - Debris  washed  out  to  sea  prior  to  the  meltdown  of  the  reactor  - The  two  radioactive  elements  –  iodine  131  and  Cesium  would  not  last  at  sea.  The  former  

has  a  half-­‐life  of  8  ½  days  and  the  latter  is  water-­‐soluble.  • Unmanned  aircraft  systems  (PUMA  aircraft)  were  also  used  in  the  effort.    • They  are  currently  using  a  GNOME  “hindcast”  model,  which  uses  known  winds  and  currents  to  

figure  out  where  debris  is  now.  The  results  show  that  the  highest  windage  debris  occurred  in  fall/winter  2011.        

• Seasonal  variation  will  continue  to  bring  lower  floating  material  to  shore.    • States  have  developed  their  own  marine  debris  plans.  See  NOAA  website  for  more  information.    • Next  steps  include:    

- At-­‐sea  detection  - Invasive  species  monitoring  (invasives  are  an  issue)  - Refine  models  - Get  contingency  plans  in  place  - Increase  awareness  

 2.  Jeff  Wilson,  Chevron  -­‐  Avoiding  Whale  Strikes    Jeff  provided  an  overview  of  the  El  Segundo  Marine  Terminal  Marine  Mammal  and  Sea  Turtle  Avoidance  Training  Program.  Highlights  include:  

• The  El  Segundo  Terminal  provides  20%  of  all  motor  vehicle  fuels  consumed  in  Southern  California,  and  40%  of  the  jet  fuel  used  at  LAX  

• 85%  of  all  raw  material  comes  via  water  • Chevron  spent  10  years  working  to  renew  their  30-­‐year  lease,  which  the  CA  States  Land  

Commission  approved  in  2010.  Over  60  mitigation  measures  are  included  in  this  new  lease,  including  the  Marine  Mammal  and  Sea  Turtle  Avoidance  Training  program.  

• The  program  includes  90-­‐page  manual  and  a  3-­‐hour  training  program  for  vessel  operators.    • Chevron  partnered  with  Cabiollo  Marine  Aquarium  (CMA)  to  develop  the  program,  which  is  

specific  to  the  route  between  ports  of  LA  and  El  Segundo  Marine  Terminal.    There  are  14  ships  at  each  of  their  two  births  per  month.    

• So  far  40  vessel  operators  have  been  certified.    Questions/comments:  

• Have  there  been  any  cases  of  whale  strikes?  Response:  No.    • What  is  the  speed  in  whale  sighting  areas?  Response:  10  knots  • Are  extra  crew  assigned  as  lookouts?  Response:  They  must  have  a  minimum  of  two  trained  

observers.    • Did  you  partner  with  NOAA  on  this  program?  Response:  No,  we  relied  on  the  local  experts  at  

CMA    

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   10  

4.  Keith  Barnes,  Harley  Marine  Service  -­‐  LNG  bunkering    Keith  Barnes  provided  an  overview  of  Harley  Marine  Service’s  experience  with  LNG  facilities.  Highlights  include:  

• The  U.S.  has  the  most  LNG  facilities  in  the  world  • Economics  are  driving  the  move  towards  LNG    • Three  types  of  LNG  facilities  exist:  export,  import  and  processing.  • Safety  is  the  biggest  issue.  LNG  has  an  excellent  safety  record.    

 Questions/Comments  

• How  will  personnel  be  licensed  for  LNG?  Response:  This  is  still  being  worked  out.    • Explain  the  ATB  configuration?  Response:  Because  the  tug  will  be  fueled  by  LNG  it  is  capable  of  

taking  fuel  off  cargo  on  the  barge.    • Most  LNG  ships  will  be  mostly  dual  fuel  vessels.  ATV  tugs  will  run  off  LNG.    • In  the  next  10  years,  a  predicted  30-­‐40%  of  bunkering  will  be  for  LNG.  There  are  new  barges  

being  constructed  and  the  hope  is  to  have  an  LNG  barge  in  place  by  winter  2014  for  service  on  the  West  Coast.  It’s  in  its  infancy  but  is  coming.  They  will  head  to  Norway  to  witness  the  SeaGas  company  bunkering  the  ferries  there.    

• How  much  more  effective  is  LNG?  Response:  Air  standards:  burn  ultra=low  sulphur  bunker,  scrubbers,  etc.  Ultra  low  diesel.  The  capitalization  to  convert  ships  is  a  too  up  between  meeting  new  and  proposed  clean  air  standards  

• There  has  been  a  lot  of  pushback  on  LNG  facilities.  Facilities  are  being  proposed  in  Vancouver,  WA,  Kitimas,  B.C.,  and  Gig  Harbor  WA  

• An  LNG  forum  was  held  in  Seattle  –  hosted  by  the  Coast  Guard  (Sector  Puget  Sound,  which  is  positioning  itself  to  be  a  national  leader  on  the  issue)  

 5.  John  Gillespie,  Grays  Harbor  HSC  –  Imperium  Renewables      John  provided  an  update  on  what  is  happening  at  Grays  Harbor  in  regards  to  the  increased  movement  of  crude  by  rail.  Highlights  include:  

• The  movement  of  crude  by  rail  is  growing  significantly.  In  2008,  there  were  9500  cars;  in  2012,  200,000,  and  in  the  first  half  of  2013  there  have  already  been  300,000.  

• Part  of  the  growth  is  attributable  to  President  Obama’s  Energy  Independence  efforts  –  drilling  for  oil  in  the  Bakken  is  growing  significantly,  from  500,000  BPD  in  2012  to  780,000  BPD  in  Feb  2013.  

• Oil  trains  typically  carry  100-­‐120  cars  of  crude  oil;  each  car  can  hold  between  120  and  720  barrels.  The  discrepancy  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  newer  trains  are  larger.  

• Railroads  have  oil  spill  contingency  plans;  however,  it  is  very  difficult,  due  to  security  reasons,  to  get  access  to  them.  The  focus  of  the  contingency  plans  is  primarily  to  get  railroads  operating  again  and  is  not  necessarily  focused  on  cleanup.  

• Imperium  –  Grays  Harbor  is  putting  in  a  crude  by  rail  terminal.  During  the  permitting  process,  they  brought  in  the  RR  to  show  the  contingency  plan  to  the  City  of  Grays  Harbor  and  the  WA  State  Department  of  Ecology.  Ecology  said  it  was  a  good  plan.  Imperium  will  bring  in  full  cars,  offload  the  fuel  to  tanks  and  load  them  onto  barges.    

• They  currently  operate  as  a  Class  1  terminal;  they  also  have  biodiesel,  diesel,  jet  fuel,  ethanol  and  crude  oil.  Ship  traffic  is  about  140-­‐150  ships  now.  They  estimate  an  additional  200  vessel  calls  per  year  when  they  are  fully  operational.      

 

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October  2013  Harbor  Safety  Summit  Notes   11  

6.  Jason  Tama,  USCG  Sector  San  Francisco  –  North  American  Emissions  Control  Area    Jason  provided  an  overview  of  the  North  American  Emissions  Control  Area  (ECA).  Highlights  include:  

• The  North  American  ECA  extends  to  200  nautical  miles  and  is  jointly  enforced  by  USCG  and  EPA  • Distillate  fuel  is  not  required  for  compliance  • Conclusions  and  issues  raised  so  far  include:  

- There  are  numerous  reporting  challenges      - What  does  fuel  switching–related  actually  mean  - 70%  LOP  experienced  during  inbound  - Slow  speed  maneuvering  - Reluctance  to  use  CARB  Safety  exemption  - LOP  numbers  remain  above  historic      

 

7.  Summit  Summary/Action  Items  –  Sarah  Brace    Sarah  thanked  OSPR  and  the  HSC  representatives  for  the  opportunity  to  participate  and  reiterated  her  idea  from  earlier  in  the  day  regarding  the  BC/States  Task  Force  supporting  the  work  of  the  HSCs  by  facilitating  an  exchange  of  lessons  learned  and  case  studies  that  could  then  be  posted  on  the  BC/States  Task  Force’s  HSC  page.      

8.  Summit  Closing  Remarks  Tom  Cullen  thanked  his  OSPR  staff,  HSC  chairs  and  all  other  participants  for  their  participation.      Summit  adjourned.      

 OSPR  Personnel  (L  to  R):  Jeff  Cohen,  Ted  Mar,  Al  Storm,  Tom  Cullen,  Reuben  Macaspac,  Mike  Shayne,  Jack    Prescott.