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.


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