17 billion barrels & counting


Vessel of Opportunity Program

Alyeska Pipeline, through the Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS), contracts with more than 400 vessels around Prince William Sound to provide oil spill response support. The Vessel of Opportunity program was started in 1990, to employ local residents in oil spill response, especially those working in the fishing industry. Today, the boats and their crews are an integral part of Alyeska’s response readiness.

Every year, vessels of opportunity participate in rigorous training that lasts several days. Crews spend time in the classroom learning oil spill and emergency response basics. Then they head on water for hands-on experience. They work with SERVS personnel on response barges to load up their own boats with equipment, and then practice deploying boom, setting up skimmers, and rehearsing other recovery tactics. Additionally, many vessels participate in drills and exercises to ensure they are prepared to respond in case of an actual incident.

Vessel Administrators have offices in Cordova, Whittier, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, and Valdez. Captains interested in joining the Vessel of Opportunity program should contact Alyeska's Vessel Coordinator at

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