After decades of work, Cook Inlet finally got its tug on Monday as the M/V Vigilant was christened during a ceremony at Homer's Deep Water Dock.
By Ben Stuart
Dori Hansen, wife of Tesoro refinery manager Steve Hansen (not shown) breaks the ceremonial bottle of wine over the gunwale of the M/V Vigilant Monday during the christening ceremony as Bruce Harland, Crowley's vice president of Alaska services looks on.
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The tug, a 6,700 horsepower vessel built in Washington, will be the first of its kind to be permanently stationed in the inlet and will be available to assist oil tankers when they dock in Nikiski.
The vessel is chartered by Crowley Maritime Corp., which has a contract with Tesoro Alaska Company to provide tug services.
Tesoro footed the bill, in part, in response to the 2006 grounding of the tanker Seabulk Pride on mud flats north of Nikiski after wind and ice broke the vessel free of its mooring lines.
"We are making this investment for Tesoro Alaska because positioning a tractor tug at Nikiski on a year-round basis is an additional enhancement to our safety and environmental programs. It is a major new commitment to the community, our employees, the State, Coast Guard and marine vessels and barges, of the emphasis we place on safety and the environment," said Captain Tim Plummer, President of Tesoro Maritime.
For many at the christening ceremony on Monday, the tug was a pretty sight.
Homer Mayor James Hornaday was on hand to award Tesoro's Nikiski refinery manager Steve Hansen with a plack commemorating the event and a recent Homer City Council resolution commending Tesoro for purchasing the vessel.
Hornaday, a former member of Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, said he had been working on getting a tug in Cook Inlet for 30 years.
"It's been a long time coming," he said.
Current CIRCAC Executive Director Mike Munger echoed the mayor.
"Tesoro should be applauded for their commitment to navigational safety by bringing this tug into Cook Inlet," he said. "It is a rare occurrence to see any corporation go above and beyond regulatory compliance. Tesoro decided that this is the right thing to do and the Council certainly appreciates this proactive measure."
Currently, assist tugs are not required by U.S. Coast Guard and state regulations in the inlet.
Hansen's wife Dori broke the ceremonial wine bottle against the ships bow Monday, blessing the ship.
Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.
