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11/17/2006: "2007 Rescue Tug Coverage Assured"

(Crowley photo)

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Crowley Maritime Corp have now entered into an agreement to station a company rescue tug at Neah Bay starting Jan. 1, 2007. Ecology oversees the rescue tug contract, and as last reported in the Island Guardian, there has been a "shortage of tugs", and the ability of Ecology to obtain a contract for coverage was in doubt.

The agreement fills a gap created when Foss Maritime opted out of its contract in August due to a shortage of tugs. Foss did agree to keep a rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay from Nov. 1 through until Dec. 31, 2006.

While the current storms are with us, Foss has deployed its Neah Bay rescue tug into the Strait of Juan de Fuca as a precautionary measure due to the stormy weather and rough seas.

A rescue tug has been stationed at Neah Bay since the spring of 1999 to help assist disabled ships traveling off the coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca from drifting onto rocks and spilling oil. During this time, rescue tugs have come to the aid of 29 disabled ships.



Under the new contract, Crowley Maritime, based in Jacksonville, Fla., will provide rescue tug service from Jan. 1 through March or April, for $8,500 a day plus fuel.

"It is vital that we have a tug at Neah Bay to prevent oil spills in one of the most environmentally sensitive and valuable areas of Washington," said Dale Jensen, who oversees spill prevention, preparedness and response activities for Ecology. "Even under the best of conditions, oil is a challenge to clean up and all but impossible to contain during the roughest weather months."

A major spill could hurt Washington's fishing and shellfish industries, further endanger salmon runs, kill birds and marine mammals, ruin public beaches, and dampen tourism.

"I am very pleased that Crowley is able to build on its many years of service in enhancing commerce, protecting the environment, and ensuring the safety of ship's crews in Washington state. We look forward to working with Ecology, the Makah Indian Tribe, the Coast Guard and others in the maritime community as we continue this important protective measure for our coastline," said John Douglass, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Crowley Maritime.

Winter storms present a higher risk of oil spills from the more than 7,000 tankers and cargo ships traveling through the Strait each year. Cargo ships can carry more than 2 million gallons of cargo oil, and oil barges or tankers can carry up to 40 million gallons of oil.

Beaches in the Olympic National Park, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and tribal lands are directly at risk for major oil spills since they are adjacent to the shipping route.

State lawmakers provided Ecology $1.4 million with the goal of providing about 200 days of rescue tug service for the 2006-07 winter season.