The Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee is making substantive progress to address issues related to safe navigation in Alaska's Cook Inlet. Most recently, the Committee met in Homer on May 13, to seat additional committee mem bers, hear reports and present its first draft harbor safety plan.

 

Key action items included seating new m embers: Frank Smith (Dry Cargo Ship Operators - Primary), Captain Eric Velsko (Commerci al Fishing Organizations - Alternate), Ken Gill - (Dry Cargo Ship Operators - Alternate), and Ma tthew Melton (Response Organizations - Alternate).

 

Special presentations included a briefing by Safeguard Marine on their work on the Anchorage Port Modernization Project. U.S. Coast Guard Commander Mike Patterson of the Office of Navigational Systems addressed a more immediate concern--the proposed decommissioning of Nikiski's Differential Global Positioning System (DPGS) site. The Coast Guard is considering taking this action based on economic factors--including the loss of the site lease and the cost of relocating the transmitting tower--and technological advances. Two antennae cover Cook Inlet, one on Kodiak and the other in Nikiski. The Coast Guard contends that an augmented signal from Kodiak will adequately cover upper Cook Inlet if the Nikiski signal is decommissioned. Harbor Safety Committee members asked the Coast Guard to facilitate an exercise with mariners to test the Kodiak signal.

 

Committee Work Groups delivered their reports, including the Navigation Work Group which presented its Mission Statement, as well as recommended best practices for Under Keel Clearance for deep draft vessels which, once approved, will be considered for incorporation in the Harbor Safety Plan. The work group also developed standard vessel tracks descriptions in an effort to minimize conflicts with pot and longline fishing gear.

 

Similarly, the Harbor Safety Plan Work Group presented its Mission Statement and draft plan with a 30-day public comment period which closed June 13. Comments will be presented to the Committee at its next meeting to be held in Anchorage on Friday, October 28, 2016.

 

The Salvage Work Group also submitted its Mission Statement for approval and further proposed conducting salvage training for local stakeholders, and initiating a review of the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Guidelines of the Cook Inlet environment for Committee consideration.

 

Finally, the Marine Firefighting Work Group, in addition to presenting its Mission Statement, offered a number of recommendations pertaining to funding training, conducting drills, and coordinating activities with the U.S. Coast Guard, state agencies, local governments and salvage response organizations.

For more information, visit www.cookinletharborsafetycommittee.org