Vessels calling at the port should review the Port of Red Dog General Information
The UK P&I Club has issued on its website news alert regarding vessels calling at the Port of Red Dog in Alaska. Each summer, the ice conditions determine when the port will open and this could be any time between early June and early July. All enquiries regarding the Port should be made toNorth Pacific Maritime
PORT OF RED DOG, ALASKA
Red Dog is a port established specifically to support the associated Lead and Zinc mine. It is a very remote location of Alaska and there are no services, including no provisions, repairs, freshwater or bunkers, available. Red Dog is situated in Lat. 67 34’42” North, Long. 164 03’30” West; Northeast of The Bering Strait near the small town of Kivalina, Alaska.
Vessels are anchored about 3 miles off shore and the ore concentrates are brought out to the ship by self unloading barges.Navigation and approach to the Red Dog anchorage are covered by NOAA chart No. 16005. For additional information regarding navigation to the Red Dog Mine Port site, please refer to U.S. Coastal Pilot, volume 9.
This is a compulsory pilotage area and the pilot station is located approximately 12 miles from the loading anchorage.
RED DOG ANCHORAGE
Water depth at the anchorage varies from 50 ft. inshore to 72 ft. offshore (17m to 22m) and likewise the surveyed approach changes depth progressively with a slight gradient.
There is a steady current at the anchorage that runs parallel to the shore in a Northwesterly direction and vessels will tend to lie head into this predominant feature.
Although the anchorage can accommodate more vessels, usually no more than three vessels will be anchored at any one time, leaving ample room for final maneuvering, safely mooring and lying at anchor.
The seabed in this area is flat, being comprised of silty sand with a firm muddy stratum lying just below, and has proved an excellent holding ground. Properly anchored vessels can safely withstand winds of up to 45 kts.
The sea swell, when not coming from the 3rd and 4th quadrant, is short and lacks effective energy, and pitching, if any, is minimal.An anchor chain length of no less than 8 shackles should provide ample holding with the second anchor kept ready to be lowered to the bottom to reduce yawing should squally conditions develop.
With vessels loading up to drafts of about 45 feet or 13.72 meters, it is intended that the under keel clearance will generally be no less than 10 feet in the loaded condition.
CARGO LOADING
The self unloading barges carry 5440 WMT of concentrate and transfer it at about 1200MT/hour, net of shifting.This is weather permitting because the barges cannot safely stay alongside the ship if the sea swell exceeds about 2 meters.
Spout trimming is done very effectively by the barge loader and the barges are fitted with their own Yokohama-type fendering, so no special fittings are required.
OFFICIAL FORMALITIES
As the ocean vessel loads outside the three statute mile limit, the vessel is not deemed by Customs to have entered into the United States. There is, therefore, no requirement to Enter In or Clear Out the vessel with Customs.However the USCG and CBP consider a vessel within the twelve mile limit to have entered U.S. territorial waters and that they have the right to board and do require filing of the 96 hr ENOA.
USCG regulations regarding U.S. COFR require vessels to submit a Non-Tank VesselResponse Plan (NTVRP) prior to operating in specific U.S. waters that identifies the contracted Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) capable to respond to worst case discharge in each U.S. area in which the vessel may transit or operate. The only OSRO operating in this area isAlaska Chadux Corporation. Vessels need to have their Oil Spill Response service provider obtain coverage withCHADUX for OSRO coverage under the federal or OPA 90 requirements.
Vessels will be outside Alaska State Waters so are not required to have an Alaska Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) or an Alaska State Contingency Plan
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Source: The UK P&I Club
