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03/27/2009: "Rescue Tug Funding From Vessel Owners"

The Senate passed Bill 5344 with a final vote of 39 to 4 vote to fund an emergency response system for the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The funding will come from "owners or operators of covered vessels transiting to or from a Washington port through the Strait of Juan de Fuca"

The requires that they establish and fund at least one rescue tug at Neah Bay to respond to vessels in distress in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and off of the state's west coast from Cape Flattery light south to Cape Disappointment light. A Related story of why it is needed.

A private organization or nonprofit cooperative can be formed to meet the rescue tug requirement. DOE (Department of Ecology) will monitor the maritime industry's progress in meeting the rescue tug requirement, and provide progress reports to the Legislature by October 1, 2009, and December 1, 2009.


The bill's sponsors were: Senators Ranker, Swecker, Rockefeller, Marr, Hargrove, Pridemore, Fraser, Shin, McDermott, Kilmer