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.
