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2002 West Coast Offshore Vessel Traffic Risk Management Project |
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| The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force was formed pursuant to a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 1989, following two west coast oil spill incidents: the first involved the barge Nestucca, which spilled oil off the coasts of Washington and British Columbia in December of 1988; the second incident was the catastrophic spill by the T/V Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound in March of 1989. These events highlighted the concerns shared by west coast states and British Columbia regarding spill risks from coastal tanker traffic routes, the need for cooperation across shared borders, and a shared commitment among west coast citizens of both the US and Canada to protect their unique marine resources. The continuing focus of the Task Force is on enhancing the ability of its member agencies as well as other public and private stakeholders to effectively prevent, prepare for, and respond to marine oil spills. This is accomplished by fostering regulatory consistency, sharing information and resources, and coordinating discussion of common issues of concern. Task Force Members have agreed to the need to study vessel routing measures along the Pacific Coast based on their belief that, if traditional shipping routes are shifted further offshore, the potential for oil spills from vessel groundings is all but eliminated (see Vessel Traffic Routing Resolution). | |
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Overview of Study
The West Coast Offshore Vessel Traffic Risk Management (WCOVTRM) Project was initiated by the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force in response to concerns that both tank and non-tank vessels transiting the Pacific Coast could pose a risk to sensitive coastal resources from oil or hazardous cargo spills caused by collisions or drift groundings. Task Force Members signed a Vessel Routing Resolution in 1996/1997 that authorized their representatives to meet with the US Coast Guard Commander, Pacific Area, as well as with the Western Regional Director of the Canadian Coast Guard. In addition to representatives from the Task Force member agencies, the Canadian Coast Guard, the US Coast Guard, and NOAA participated in the project. The following organizations were also recruited for the Project Workgroup: the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council; the British Columbia Chamber of Shipping; the Canadian Council of Marine Carriers; the Canadian Navy; the Institute of Ocean Sciences in the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans; the Puget Sound Steamship Operators' Association; the Washington Public Ports Association; Ocean Policy Advocates; the Portland Marine Exchange; the Port of Portland; the California Coastal Commission; the Western States Petroleum Association; the Council of American Master Mariners; the US Navy, Pacific Region; the American Waterways Operators, Pacific Region; INTERTANKO; the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association; the Olympic National Marine Sanctuary; and Save Our Shores. Many of these Workgroup members have given extensively of their time in researching and gathering data, as well as participating in meetings and conference calls over the last three years. The 2002 West Coast Offshore Vessel Traffic Risk Management Table of Contents Final Report Appendix A and B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L cover Appendix L Expanded Scenarios Appendix L Risk Maps Appendix L Selective Scenarios Display Appendix L Selective Scenarios Appendix M Appendix N Return to Top |
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