When USS Harry S. Truman — one of the world's largest aircraft carriers — arriving at the Oslo Fjord, it's not an ordinary sight. The 333-foot-long, nuclear-powered giant, named after the 33rd president of the United States, makes an impressive impression when it docks. With the capacity to carry up to 90 aircraft and equipped for everything from combat operations to humanitarian missions, the ship is a unique part of the landscape outside Akershus Fortress. It was therefore a great honor for us in SAR then Waste Authority NWAAS asked us to lead the mission of safely handling sewage and oil water from this massive vessel.
Following the success of a similar mission last year for the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, we were reassigned to the responsibility of handling waste from the USS Harry S. Truman. The mission was carried out in collaboration with NWAAS and Serwent, and largely encompassed the management and coordination of the complex logistics required to handle large amounts of waste and oilwater in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
A logistical giant mission
Handling waste from a ship of this size is no easy task. The aircraft carrier has a crew of up to 5,000 people. Over six days, the whole 4,000 cubic meters of sewage and 100 cubic meters slopewater (oil-mixed water) received at the dock. For perspective: 4,000 cubic meters of sewage is equivalent to the contents of 4,000 IBC containers! The slopewater was transported by boat and treated by SAR's water treatment plant in Mongstad, which is the largest in Norway for industrial wastewater.
Sindre Haland from the SAR led the project, organising close collaboration between the SAR, NWAAS and Serwent to ensure efficient waste management. The mission required careful coordination between various actors to guarantee seamless operations. The SAR was present at the site for several days to follow the work, while the partners carried out specific parts of the operation.
“We are proud to be elected again. This is a recognition of our capacity to handle demanding logistics and large amounts of waste. “— Sindre Håland, Sales Manager in SAR
Prepared for Future Challenges
With the success from the handling of the USS Harry S. Truman, and previous assignments with NWAAS, we look forward to contributing at future visits of similar scale. For Oslo Fjord, SAR and NWAAS, this was a spectacular experience that sets the standard for how large-scale operations can be conducted effectively.
A big thank you goes to Bård Solbakk and NWAAS for the cooperation and the opportunity to carry out another successful project.
