UNIQUE LOGISTICS DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED DURING RESPONSE TO THE M/V SELENDANG AYU STRANDING AND BREAK UP

摘要

The response to the M/V SELENDANG AYU stranding, breakup and oil spilt in the Aleutian Islands presented unique logistics challenges for the response organization. Conducted over the best part of two years in an environment described as containing "some of the harshest weather conditions Alaska has to offer", the response effort was heartily tested by both location and setting of the operation. The coincidental opening of the largest fishery in the U.S. nearby, weeks after the casualty, placed significant pressures on matters from the very inception. Added to this, the limited availability of traditional indigenous OSRO support as well as the extreme distances to sources of resource supply and receptors for recovered oil and associated wastes further encumbered the effort and posed extraordinary logistics and transport problems. With one important element of logistics, the rugged topography and lack ground access to impacted shorelines complicated the establishment of reliable and effective communications between incident command and response forces in the field presenting challenges of their own. A key to dealing effectively with the unique array of problems presented by the situation was the development and implementation of an overall logistics plan adapted to and workable under the unusual constraints posed. Lessons learned included the realization that there still exist areas in the world and/or prevailing conditions that, even with the advanced capabilities provided by current technology, ad-hoc augmentation, resourcefulness and ingenuity to make things work are still important assets. Because of the unavailability of major OSRO support, we were also obligated to create our own OSRO to be capable of fielding the forces necessary effect the major shoreline cleanup effort when the time came to do that. Most importantly, the results demonstrated that maritime oil spills can be effectively dealt with in even the most hostile and remote locations. A significant factor helping achieve these results was the outstanding cooperation between and support by all of the elements involved in the response including both the Federal and State on Scene Coordinators, the local populace and, most importantly, the Aleut stakeholders of the impacted areas.