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Department of Ecology News Release - March 9, 2009
09-057
OLYMPIA – For the 42nd time since 1999 the currently state-funded response tug has been called into service.
Today, at about 11:30 a.m., the captain of the VIJITRA NAREE, a 12 year old, 541-foot grain ship, which is empty and in-ballast, notified the U.S. Coast Guard that the vessel had excessive main engine exhaust gas temperature requiring them to shut down their main propulsion engine. At about noon, the vessel purposely shutdown its engine and drifted south towards Duntze Rock.
The ship, owned by Precious Orchids, Ltd. had been heading into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with a final destination of the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia. It has a diesel fuel capacity of 474,222 gallons.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) directed the state-funded Neah Bay emergency response tug HUNTER to render aid as required. HUNTER arrived at 1 p.m.to assist the cargo ship. Winds were easterly at 10-15 miles per hour and sea swells at about six feet.
Shortly after the HUNTER reached the VIJITRA NAREE, the vessel got under way using its own engine with reduced power after isolating one of the engine cylinders. HUNTER escorted the ship as it re-entered the eastbound traffic lanes. At approximately 2:15PM, the U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an Order requiring the ship to have a tug escort during its transit of United States’ waters enroute to Canada.
Current state funding for the response tug will end on June 30th. Governor Gregoire’s proposed budget would extend funding for an additional year, through June 30, 2010. The state Legislature is now considering a bill that would require the shipping industry to pay for year round emergency tug service beginning on July 1, 2010.
“Events such as this one prove that a response tug is an important part of our effort to prevent environmental damage in Puget Sound and our state,” said Dale Jensen, who oversees Ecology’s spills program. “Loss of propulsion or steering can happen to a ship at any time of the year and an oil spill from a ship that runs aground could cause tremendous harm to marine life, coastal communities, sport and commercial fishing, tourism, and tribal resources.”
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Contact: Mary-Ellen Voss, public information, 360-407-7211 or 360-790-7491
For more information about the rescue tug: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/response_tug/tugresponsemainpage.htm
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
