CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Mayor Hornaday

RESOLUTION 07-49

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, URGING INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT TO ASSURE ASSIST TUG REMAINS IN COOK INLET YEAR-ROUND AND ADOPTION OF OTHER NAVIGATION SAFETY REGULATIONS.

 

WHEREAS, Cook Inlet Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council is calling for the State of Alaska and the United States Coast Guard to fund a comprehensive navigational risk assessment for Cook Inlet to identify deficiencies and to help implement measures that make vessel traffic safer; and

WHEREAS, Cook Inlet RCAC is also requesting that large vessel operators like oil and shipping companies station an assist tug in Upper Cook Inlet permanently; and

            WHEREAS, Major industry, regulatory, municipal, and environmental stakeholders from across the region agreed with Cook Inlet RCAC requests at a two-day Navigational Safety Forum in Anchorage to find a way to keep Tesoro’s recently contracted Crowley “Protector-class” tug or a similar vessel in the Inlet throughout the year; and

            WHEREAS, It is a rare occurrence to see any corporation go above and beyond regulatory compliance and Tesoro is not currently required to provide the tug; and

            WHEREAS, The tug provides significant prevention, response, and fire fighting capabilities, which Cook Inlet has needed for a long time; and

            WHEREAS, Cook Inlet RCAC first identified the need for a tug in 1992, numerous incidents over the past decade reinforced Cook Inlet RCAC’s position, and a tanker grounding last year that threatened a massive oil spill demonstrated the level of risk citizens face without tugs; and

            WHEREAS, Cook Inlet RCAC is requesting that the Coast Guard develop and implement regulations to require docking assist vessels at the three industrial Nikiski docks and to strengthen winter ice operating rules for all vessels.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Homer urges industry and government to work to assure that the assist tug remains in Cook Inlet year-round and the adoption of the safety regulations.

            PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer city Council this 27th day of March, 2007.

                                                                        CITY OF HOMER

                                                                        _____________________________

                                                                        JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST: 

______________________________

JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK 

Fiscal Note:  N/A