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Weather Halts Alaskan Tanker Operations, January 28, 2004

Debra Russell OIC / PMO
Valdez, AK

A strong 1044-hPa High Center migrated eastward across the Alaska mainland the weekend of January 24th eventually coming to rest over the Yukon Territory at 1031-hPa by mid-week. The position of this High combined with a deepening 989-hPa Low Center in the Gulf of Alaska created strong channeled winds out of eastern passages on the south side of the Port of Valdez and through Thompson Pass. Cold air flowing into the area from the Yukon High, dropped ambient air temperatures into the single digits at the Alyeska Terminal and produced sub-zero wind chill temperatures. Gale Warnings and Heavy Freezing Spray Warnings were daily headlines in the Port of Valdez Marine Forecast, as well as for the Valdez Narrows and Arm.

Winds on the south side of the port were sustained around 25 kt with frequent gusts of 35–40 kt according to reports from personnel at the Berth 4 Fueling Dock. The wind speeds themselves were not so much a factor in the shutting down of operations as the wind waves created by the gusty winds. Seas splashing over containment booms created potential spill containment hazards, thus ceasing fueling operations. Winds finally subsided as the High slipped farther eastward allowing operations to fully resume on the morning of the 30th.

The weather shut down combined with previous security shut downs earlier in the month have cost the Tankers about 10 days of fueling during January, which translates into a loss of millions of dollars.

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