Alyeska Vessel of Opportunity Program
Cordova District Fishermen United holds the contract with Alyeska Pipeline/SERVS (Ship Escort/Response Vessel System) to execute the Vessel of Opportunity Program for Cordova. CDFU employs the Fishing Vessel Administrator and Alternate Fishing Vessel Administrator to manage the contracts with Fishing Vessel Owners based out of Cordova.
Read more about the program as found on the Alyeska Pipeline Website…
"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."
Get your vessel on the waitlist
If you are interested in having your vessel on contract with SERVS, you can apply for the waitlist here
Sign up for the crew pool
Looking to participate as a crew member, but don’t have a vessel to attend training on?
Sign up for the crew pool here, and Vessel Owners can reach out as they need crew. Must be 18 and cannot have participated in training in any port, in the same calendar year.