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Department of Ecology News Release - December 29, 2006
06-271
OLYMPIA – On Jan. 1, Crowley Maritime will take over rescue tug coverage at Neah Bay to help assist disabled ships traveling off the coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
In 2007, Crowley Maritime, based in Jacksonville, Fla., will provide rescue tug service, but for the remaining hours of 2006, Foss Maritime will keep its tug stationed at Neah Bay.
In the final week of the year, a pair of close calls off the Washington Coast served as reminders to operators of vessels in stormy winter weather.
Dale Jensen, who oversees oil spill prevention, preparedness and response activities for Ecology, said the rescue tug is being deployed into the Strait of Juan de Fuca as a precautionary measure due to stormy weather and rough seas.
"I can't stress how important it is for all ships and vessels in Washington to operate safely and follow maritime safety standards, especially during winter storms and the holiday season," Jensen said. "Our top priorities are to promote safe maritime practices and preventing oil spills from happening."
On Wednesday, Dec. 27, a 334-foot, double-hull tank barge Nancy Jo carrying nearly 1.5 million gallons of heavy fuel oil lost its towline with an Olympic Tug & Barge Co. tug went adrift for about two hours 25 miles west of Ocean Shores. Fortunately, the crew of the James T. Quigg was able to reconnect with the barge and towed it safely to Astoria, Ore.
Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard vessel inspectors are continuing their investigation and the barge is schedule to arrive in Portland Friday night.
Today, the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard came to the aid of a 58-foot fishing vessel with four people on board 22 miles southwest of Cape Flattery. The vessel began taking on water but is slowly making its way to Neah Bay under its own power.
In both instances, Ecology readied the Neah Bay rescue tug to assist, but it was not needed.
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.
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.
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Media contact: Curt Hart, Public Information Manager, 360-407-6990; cell 360-480-7908.
More information about rescue tug history
More information about the Nancy Jo barge incident
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