2026 Knowles Head Exercise - Initial Incident Update

Valdez, Alaska –
• There are no reported injuries.
• Personnel are responding to reports of impacted wildlife.
• More than 350 personnel are involved in the response, including in the field and at the Valdez-based
command post.
• The Tanker Western Sea is owned by Fairwater Tankers Alaska LLC. Fairwater is taking responsibility
for responding to the incident.
• The volume capacity of the two damaged cargo tanks is 5.88 million gallons. At departure from the
Valdez Marine Terminal there were approximately 31 million gallons onboard.
• The cause of the incident is under investigation. A separate unit of the U.S. Coast Guard (not involved
in the response efforts) is the entity leading the investigation. To ensure accuracy, findings will be
released when the investigation is completed.
• Individuals involved with the incident were tested for drugs and alcohol as part of the incident
investigation.
• The Unified Command will not release information about the ongoing investigation.
• On-scene task force teams continue containment and recovery efforts:
o As of 1:45 p.m., four open water response task force crews have recovered approximately
543,000 gallons of oily water mix.
o When recovering oil, spill skimmers will usually collect some water at the same time as cleaning
up the oil. The collected (emulsified) mixture is pumped by skimmers into storage- usually a
large barge or tank for measurement at a later date.
o Tracking buoys are deployed for monitoring the trajectory of the spill. Overflights are also being
conducted.
• Nearshore responders are mobilizing to preemptively protect shorelines. Wildlife response units are
mobilizing to areas determined by response personnel to protect wildlife like sea lions and sea birds.
• 88 Vessels of Opportunity have been activated as part of the response.
• A temporary flight restriction of a 1-mile radius up to 5,000 feet remains in place around the incident
scene. A U.S. Coast Guard safety zone extending 2 miles from the spill site is place.
• The Unified Command includes representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Dept. Of
Environmental Conservation, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.
• Teams continue to assess the tanker. The source of the spill is not contained. Two tugs are onsite with
the tanker.
• The Trans Alaska Pipeline System remains operational.
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued Emergency Orders to close several herring fisheries.
Details about the closures are located: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main
Background:
At approximately 3:30 a.m. today, the tanker T/V Western Sea was involved in a collision while anchored in
Prince William Sound, in the vicinity of Knowles Head, causing a spill of crude oil to water.
The Unified Command is committed to open communication with the public throughout the response. The
phone number for the PIO is 907-834-6990. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
For updates, please check the response website at www.crisispigeondemo.com
A claims number is established: 1-877-257-5778 Prompt 4 Prompt 5.