Zero spills, zero incidents nets Crowley safety and environmental award from Tesoro

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska; June 17, 2009) Zero spills and zero incidents is good news for Crowley, its customers and citizens who rely on responsible companies to keep Alaska’s waterways clean.  
In an informal presentation, Tim Plummer, president of Tesoro Maritime Company presented crewmembers of Crowley’s tug Vigilant with an award recognizing their commitment to safety and the environment by concluding 2008 with zero spills and incidents.  
“We are pleased to have a strong advocate of environmental stewardship in Tesoro,” said Bruce Harland, vice president of contract services in Alaska. “Our crewmembers work tirelessly to ensure not only the safety of customers’ assets but also the environment. Tesoro’s proactive attitude in stationing a Crowley tug in Cook Inlet year-round shows a commitment on their part to protect Alaska’s pristine waterways.”
The Vigilant is on long-term charter to Tesoro and is stationed in Cook Inlet, Alaska where it provides ship assist and escort services for Tesoro operated tankers moving in and out of the Tesoro Refinery dock (KPL) in Nikiski, AK. Without regulatory requirement mandating it, Tesoro chose to station a tug in Cook Inlet year-round to provide a higher level of safety for their fleet carrying petroleum cargo.  
Through the partnership with Tesoro, the Vigilant also provides assists for ships and barges carrying Tesoro product and for other third party entities needing an extra measure of safety and security in the heavy ice conditions that plague Cook Inlet during winter.
Tesoro Corporation, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a Fortune 150 and a Global 500 company with approximately 5,500 employees. As a leading independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products, Tesoro, through its subsidiaries, operates seven refineries primarily in the western United States with a combined crude oil capacity of approximately 660,000 barrels per day (bpd). For more information visit, www.tsocorp.com.  
Crowley has provided various marine, petroleum distribution, and energy support services in Alaska since 1953, and today has offices and operations throughout the state.
Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 117-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com
By Professional Mariner Staff