Business - Business News

POSTED: Friday, Aug. 07, 2009

ConocoPhillips' Polar Tankers receives ecology award

Representatives from Washington Department of Ecology recently gave Polar Tankers its Exceptional Compliance Program Award.

The award was given to the subsidiary of ConocoPhillips Co. for achieving excellence in marine safety and environmental stewardship. The oil tankers arrive twice a week on average at the Ferndale dock near the Ferndale ConocoPhillips refinery.

Polar Tankers operates U.S.-flagged crude oil tankers on the West Coast including Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. Its five modern, Endeavour Class tankers are specifically designed to carry crude oil in an environmentally safe manner. The double-hulled vessels feature 10 feet of space between the inner and outer hulls, two independent engine rooms, redundant propulsion and twin steering systems and a bow thruster.

Along with ECOPRO, ecology manages the Voluntary Best Achievable Protection program. Tank vessel operators are encouraged to participate in Washington's VBAP or ECOPRO program to protect Washington's natural resources from the damage caused by an oil spill.

The VBAP and ECOPRO standards are designed to fill important safety gaps which Washington has identified as critical for state waters.