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TheentireVOSSsystemftsinsideasingleC-130militaryaircraftfortransporttodistantlocations.The D17DRATdeploysthissystemannuallyontheCGC Anthony Petit inKetchikan,Alaska. TheSORSissimilartotheVOSS,exceptitisdesigned forCoastGuardbuoytendersandstaysonboardatall times.Therearetwosidestothesystem,foraport-or starboard-sidedeployment.D17'sresponseadvisory teamexerciseswiththeSORSonayearlybasisto maintaincurrencywiththebuoytendercrewsaboard thecuttersSycamore, Hickory, Spar, and Maple. TheDRATalsoexercisedtheSORSequipmentforthe frsttimeoffthecoastofNomein2011andinthesummerof2012offofBarrow,Alaska,withgreat uccess. s Arctic Spill Response Because of the harsh temperatures and geographic remoteness, spill response in the Arctic is fundamentally diferent from responses in warmer areas. For example, in the Arctic, two-thirds of the year has limited sunlight, making spill response difcult at best. In addition, fuids become more viscous, hydraulic hoses and metals become brittle and break more easily, and freezing spray quickly covers everything. Anyone working in these conditions must take "warm-up" breaks or face the possibility of hypothermia, frostbite, or even death. While workers are kept warm, their equipment is not — unless it is continuously covered. As such, equipment is exposed to the elements and requires more than average maintenance to ensure optimum results. TheDRATdeploysSORSequipmentfvetimesayear; atypicaldeploymentisaweeklongevolutioninvolvingthePacifcStrikeTeam,NavySupervisorofSalvage,localCGunits,thebuoytendercrews,harbormasters, and other local stakeholders. Dispersant Delivery System TheCoastGuardutilizestheaerialdispersantdeliverysystem(ADDS)designedtoinstallinrear-loading aircraft.Thesystemcanbeinstalledorremovedin lessthan60minuteswithnoneedforanyadditional aircraftmodifcations,usingitsownauxiliaryplatformorstandardairportequipment. Onceayear,theDRATandAirStationKodiakcrews conductADDStrainingtoexerciseandrecertifywith theequipment. Sycamore's crew trains annually with the onboard SORS equipment. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Offcer Kelly Parker. International Engagement, Continuing Challenges Thedistrictresponseadvisoryteamconductsjoint exerciseswiththeCanadianCoastGuardbiannually, andisintalkswiththeRussiangovernmenttoconductsimilarexercises.However,theDRATcanonly conducttrainingatcertaintimesoftheyearinthe Arcticduetotheharshclimateandextremetemperatures.Additionally,logisticstohousepersonneland equipmentareexacerbatedbylimitedspaceandroad access. knowledgetoprepareincasetheyarecalleduponto respondabovetheArcticCircle. Even with these challenges, D17 DRAT members areswiftlybecomingeliteexpertsincold-weather oil spill response at a time when oil and natural resourceexplorationisexpandingtomoreuncharted and isolated locations. Despite all the environmental andlogisticalhardships,theDRATmemberscontinuetomaintaintheirprofciency,expandingtheir www.uscg.mil/proceedings About the authors: LCDR Jennifer Hnatow has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 11 years, most notably as the assistant District 17 DRAT supervisor, and has received three Coast Guard Commendation medals, an Achievement medal, four Meritorious Unit commendations, and seven Meritorious Team commendations. Mr. Mark Wagner has served in the U.S. Coast Guard as the D17 DRAT supervisor for the past 10 years, after retiring from 24 years of active duty service as a senior chief petty offcer. Active duty awards include three Commendation medals and four Achievement medals. He has also been recognized as unit chief petty offcer of the year and sailor of the year. Endnotes: 1. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012. Suitland,MD:U.S.Census Bureau. 2. laskaDepartmentofTransportationandPublicFacilities,2009. A Summer 2013 Proceedings 49