National Response Corporation
All the precautions in the world won’t change the fact that, sooner or later, emergencies happen. When they do, companies need to know they have a partner that can help repair the damage. National Response Corporation (NRC) is often just the partner for the job.
National Response Corporation was formed two decades ago in the wake of the Exxon Valdez incident. After Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, all vessels and marine transportation facilities within U.S. waters are required to have an approved oil spill response plan. Founded in 1992, NRC is able to provide resources needed to meet the legislation’s requirements. Over time, the company’s capabilities have expanded, and it has responded to almost all major U.S. oil spills and many other emergencies, as well.
“NRC’s approach is to be cost-effective, customer-friendly and customizable,” President Steve Candito says.
Because of rules and regulations, NRC must have a certain amount of resources ready to move and get to different locations quickly and efficiently. The company must do its best to keep cost down for clients while maintaining flexibility. It pre-positions equipment and its strategic approaches allow the company to readily get into response mode.
“We work with a number of contractors who are part of our response network and we have purchased large assets, pre-positioning these resources with the subcontractors to assist in building relations with them, as well as to help support our own equipment,” Senior Vice President Mike Reese says.
Ready to respond
Indeed, among NRC’s main objectives is maintaining relationships with the contractors and access to resources in its response network. NRC’s regional managers meet regularly with subcontractors and maintain a rigorous training program with its network partners. Maintaining a well-trained response force is critical, too. The company must be sure that its own response personnel, as well as its subcontractors and clients, have a high level of response preparedness.
The company continues to expand services and capabilities. Some of this expansion is in response to new regulations. After the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico, the company is now required to have dispersal chemicals positioned around the country and ready for action. NRC invested heavily in the chemicals and in increasing the size of its fixed-wing fleet to meet those regulations. It also provides non-emergency environmental support services.
As there is really only one industry competitor that does what NRC does on a nationwide basis, the company is in a unique position to serve on such a large scale. Smaller, local and regional companies respond to emergencies, but NRC feels it has a significant competitive advantage over less equipped and less experienced regional companies.
NRC has a sizeable market share with vessel owners and oil facilities, but it is looking to increase its presence in the E&P market. This market is a target area for NRC, and as many E&P companies move into deeper water and operate off of Trinidad and Cuba, NRC believes it is an ideal partner to ensure that any unfortunate events can be dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible. Over the long-term, the company envisions expanding their international arena, as well.