Governor to Sign Bill Today Requiring Shippers to Pay for Rescue Tug

Governor Christine Gregoire today will sign into law landmark legislation that requires the oil, cargo and cruise industry to pay for a year-round response tug to stand by at Neah Bay to prevent vessel oil spills. The signing coincides with the 20th anniversary of the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker (40th) and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (24th) requires the shipping industry to form a cooperative to contract for standby response tug service at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

“It’s taken over 10 years to accomplish this important measure to prevent oil spills,” said Bruce Wishart, policy director of People For Puget Sound. “People For Puget Sound and the coalition of tribes, shellfish growers and conservation and recreation groups thank Senator Ranker and Representative Van De Wege for their great work.”

“This is a great victory, but we still have more work ahead to protect our marine waters from oil spills,” said Wishart. “The recently-released state Oil Spill Advisory Council report shows a major gap in preparedness in our ability to respond to a major spill off the coast or within Puget Sound.   We need to insure that shippers and oil companies are meeting the requirement in state law to be prepared for a worst case spill.”

Wishart also noted that state funding for the Advisory Council needs to be maintained.

A rescue tug has been stationed at Neah Bay since 1999 on a part-time seasonal basis and paid for by state and federal funds.  Since 1999, the rescue tug has been responsible for 42 rescues or assists of oil tankers, cargo vessels, and other vessels in the region.  

Similar success stories surround tugs stationed in Alaska, Japan, France, Great Britain, and across the globe.   

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Contact: Bruce Wishart, (360) 754-9177