Vessels

The following links provide access to the requirements for vessels operating in Washington State waters. Start by choosing the type of vessel you operate: 

• A TANK VESSEL (tank ship or tank barge).
  A "tank vessel" is defined as any ship that is constructed or adapted to carry, or that carries, oil in bulk as cargo or cargo residue [RCW 88.46.010(20)].

OR

• A CARGO, PASSENGER, or FISHING VESSEL.         
  "Cargo vessel" means a self-propelled ship in commerce, other than a tank vessel or a passenger vessel, of three hundred or more gross tons, including but not limited to, commercial fish processing vessels and freighters [RCW 88.46.010(3)].  "Passenger vessel" means a ship of three hundred or more gross tons with a fuel capacity of at least six thousand gallons carrying passengers for compensation [RCW 88.46.010(16)].

Vessel Emergencies

On July 22, 2011, a new reporting requirement for vessel emergencies becomes effective in Washington State. Vessel operators ,must notify the Department of Ecology via Washington's Emergency Management Division (EMD) within one hour of experiencing a vessel emergency that either results in a discharge or poses a substantial threat of discharge of oil.

• The contact information for EMD is already in your contingency plans (1-800-258-5990 / 24 hours a day), so this notification process is well established and frequently practiced during drills.
• This new law states that "the owner or operator of a covered vessel must notify the state of any vessel emergency that results in the discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil to state waters or that may affect the natural resources of the state within one hour of the onset of that emergency."
• By making this notification the vessel operator will be taking the first step to implement a proportional response to the emergency in coordination with your Northwest response partners. The purpose of this notification is to allow federal, state and industry partners to coordinate efforts and ensure that reasonable spill preparedness and response measures can pre-identified, staged, or mobilized prior to a spill occurring.

Additional Information

• Link to the law
• Letter to oil spill contingency plan holders
• Additional clarification

Ballast Water

The following links provide access to the ballast water requirements for vessels operating in Washington State waters.

• Washington State Law
• Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
• U.S. Coast Guard - Ballast Water/Aquatic Nuisance Species
• U.S. Coast Guard's Ballast Water reporting form