Rozema Boat Works, Mount Vernon, Wash., is wrapping up construction on two new 31' boom boats for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s spill response fleet in Valdez, Alaska, continuing a long-standing relationship between the builder and terminal operator.
The aluminum vessels are the latest boom boats built by Rozema for the service company. According to Alyeska’s emergency preparedness and response director Mike Day, the newbuilds were designed around decades of operational experience at the Valdez Marine Terminal and in Prince William Sound.
“These two newbuilds are sisterships of vessels that Rozema built for Alyeska 25 years ago; the new vessels incorporate modern equipment and configuration improvements identified over years of operating the originals,” Day said.
The boats are used daily as part of Alyeska’s oil spill response operations surrounding tanker loading activities at the Valdez terminal. Alyeska said the vessels deploy and maintain containment boom around tankers loading crude oil at the facility 24 hours a day throughout the year.
“Twenty-four hours a day, every day, these vessels deploy and maintain containment boom around tankers that load oil at the Valdez Marine Terminal,” Day said. “They were built for towing thousands of feet of heavy boom during the winter in high seas and winds that are encountered here in Valdez.”
Rozema Vice President Tim Kolb said the boats are purpose-built work platforms designed specifically for Valdez spill response operations and the demanding conditions in Prince William Sound.
“In Valdez, when all the ships come in to pick up oil…all of the ships have to be wrapped up in a boom,” Kolb said.
Kolb said the vessels see constant use maintaining and maneuvering containment systems around tankers.
“They get a ton of hours on them,” he said. “They spend most of their time maneuvering, towing boom, and working in the inner harbor. And they’re not high speed. I mean, they get up and go, but mostly they just spend their life towing boom.”
In addition to towing containment boom, the vessels support a range of spill response operations, including anchor handling, oil skimmer support, containment boom maintenance, and boom inflation using integrated hydraulic systems.
“These vessels use onboard systems for anchor handling, oil skimmer operation, and containment boom maintenance and inflation,” Day said.
The new vessels were also designed with a low profile to address one of the more specialized operational requirements at the Valdez Marine Terminal.
“They’re also built with a low profile to work under the Valdez Marine Terminal loading dock’s personnel catwalks during all stages of the tide and sea state,” Day said.
“All fabricated in house,” Kolb said, speaking to the vessel’s deck equipment, which includes a lifting A-frame, davit, hydraulic washdown system, hydraulic blower, capstan and towpost, and push knees for boom handling operations.
Once completed, the boats will make the trip north aboard barges operated by Sitka, Alaska-based Samson Tug & Barge.
The boats measure 31'x13' molded dimensions, with overall dimensions of 34'x13'8". The vessel’s draw 48", while air draft is kept below 115" to maintain clearance beneath the terminal catwalk structures.
Propulsion comes from twin Cummins QSB6.7-SW diesel engines rated at 305 hp each at 2,600 rpm. The vessels carry 225 gals. of fuel and are designed for crews of four.
The two newbuilds will join another 14 Rozema-built vessels already operating in Alyeska’s spill response fleet. Alyeska said the contract was awarded through a competitive bidding process.
The vessels are expected to be delivered this summer.
