ITOS can provide efficiency, timely spill response

By RICH SOFTYE
Marine Exchange

Public Law 104-58 directed the United States Coast Guard to:

... submit a plan to Congress on the most cost effective means of implementing an international private sector tug of opportunity system, including a coordinated system of communication, using existing towing vessels to provide timely emergency response to a vessel in distress transiting the waters within the boundaries of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary or the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Prior to this, the maritime industry was making its own plans to implement a system whereby tugs would be identified throughout the waters of the Northwest to provide assistance to vessels in need. The establishment of the International Tug of Opportunity System (ITOS) has satisfied the intent of the law and the desire of the maritime industry to provide assistance for itself.

Since ITOS became operational in October 1997, tug participation continues to increase in what is the largest transponder-based, vessel-assist system in the world. To date, 75 transponders have been installed on United States and Canadian-based tugboats that transit the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its approaches from sea.

Since it began in 1997, ITOS has been used in three incidents. Photo by Fred Felleman and Beth Miller

The ultimate goal is to outfit 100 tugs-of-opportunity with transponders provided by Meteor Communications Corporation (MCC) of Kent. MCC was chosen after a nationwide search by a coalition of organizations that today act as an advisory council to the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound which administers and operates the system.

The advisory committee consists of the American Waterways Operators, British Columbia Chamber of Shipping, Council of Marine Carriers, North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners Association, Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association, Transportation Institute and Western States Petroleum. Fees to support the system are collected by the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound for all vessels over 300 GT entering U.S. ports. The Chamber of Shipping collects fees for vessels entering Canadian waters.

The primary goal of ITOS was to enhance the current ability of industry and the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards to prevent drift groundings of vessels which become disabled while transiting the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the approaches to those waters. But ITOS is becoming much more.

Not only have tugs been identified for assistance to other vessels, they have also been tracked for their own safety during heavy weather conditions. The Washington State Ferries also are monitored for possible calls for assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard recently published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making requiring passenger vessels to have a response plan that, in addition to other things, requires each vessel identify emergency response and rescue resources in its operating area.

Since it began in 1997, ITOS has been used for three incidents. A container vessel off the coast of Vancouver Island lost propulsion and was drifting toward shore. The vessel anchored and sought commercial assistance. One of the assisting tugs outfitted with an ITOS transponder was tracked to the scene. The vessel position was verified, allaying fears that it was about to go aground. The vessel was towed into port with an escort while the ITOS verified its progress.

A second incident involved a vessel outbound at the north end of Puget Sound which reported a propulsion problem. ITOS identified available tugs in the area and three were found which, if needed, could have been dispatched by the appropriate authority, but the vessel was underway in short order without needing tug assistance.

The third incident involved tracking a tug with a petroleum tow beyond what is known as the Area To Be Avoided (ATBA) off the Olympic Coast Marine Sanctuary. A severe weather system was passing the area. The shore side operations center for the tug was notified of the heavy weather and the effect it had on the course line of the tug and tow. A tug was identified in Neah Bay and Grays Harbor for possible assistance, but additional tugs were not needed since the weather system passed and the tug and tow proceeded without incident.

Tug boats transiting waters of the Northwest in the normal course of business have historically responded to disabled vessels either at the direct request of the vessel's master or at the direction of the U.S. or Canadian Coast Guard. ITOS enhances that system by improving the efficiency and timeliness of response.

All tug locations are monitored by transponders which send the tug's Differential Global Positioning System Signal back to the 24-hour Operations Center at the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound. The Exchange sends the signal to the U.S. and Canadian Vessel Traffic Service Centers for additional oversight.

At each of these locations an operator can observe the computerized display of the tug's location, course and speed as well as retrieve appropriate tug statistics from the database. Tugs may be contacted via the ITOS VHF radio system or through standard VHF. The master of a vessel may request a tug from the vessels identified by ITOS. The U.S. or Canadian Coast Guard may intercede and exercise their response authorities to dispatch resources depending on the severity and urgency of the situation.

ITOS has enhanced maritime safety and demonstrates dedication by the international maritime community to use the latest technology to protect our environment in the Northwest.

Copyright © 1998 Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.