When the
operator of the trans-Alaska pipeline and Valdez tanker port reported a
shortfall in the Prince William Sound-based part of its fishing vessel
response fleet earlier this year, some insiders said the biggest single
issue driving the decline in participation in the program was a set of
long-standing concerns with their contract. Now some vessel
owners--feeling those concerns have not been sufficiently
addressed--have set a deadline of the end of the month to resolve issues
including compensation and insurance, after which they say they are
prepared to stand down. Alyeska invited representatives from various response
fleets for a meeting in Anchorage Monday (April 19), during which the fishermen
hoped to be able to resolve the matter before the Alyeska/SERVS Spring Oil Spill Response Training later this month in Cordova. KCHU's Erik Wander has more:
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