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Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 15, 2003
03-185
OLYMPIA - The Barbara Foss rescue tug got a rousing send-off today as it began its sixth season of duty in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
State lawmakers, officials from the state Department of Ecology (Ecology), representatives of Foss Maritime Company and the Makah tribe, and others gathered in Seattle to tour the boat and celebrate its past five years of success in preventing oil spills in the Strait and on Washington's outer coast.
Dale Jensen, who manages Ecology's spills program, expressed his appreciation for the legislature's efforts to support the tug, even in difficult budget times.
"Even small oil spills are destructive to the environment, and our coastline is particularly unique and sensitive," said Jensen. "We very much appreciate the support for the tug that we have received from Governor Locke and the legislature to avoid the type of environmental disaster they're still recovering from in Prince William Sound."
The tug will be based in Neah Bay for the next six months to assist ships in distress throughout the fall and winter seasons. Winter storms present a higher risk of oil spills from the nearly 10,000 cargo ships and tanker transits traveling through the Strait each year.
Fifteen billion gallons of oil are carried through the Strait each year via cargo and passenger vessels, oil barges, tankers and fishing vessels. Bad weather that is often experienced along the outer coast and in the western Strait presents an added risk to vessel traffic.
A rescue tug has been stationed at Neah Bay during each of the past five winters, primarily using state funds, with some federal assistance. The state legislature provided $1.4 million to assure a minimum of six months of coverage for the 2003-04 winter season.
Over the past five years, the Neah Bay rescue tug has assisted 22 vessels.
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Media contact: Mary-Ellen Voss, phone 360-407-7211, pager 360-956-8296
Spills Program Web site: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
