Emergency Response Tug

Last updated 9/1/2010

The emergency response tug stationed at Neah Bay is an important safety net to prevent disabled ships and barges from grounding in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca or off our outer coast.

Funding for the Neah Bay tug has successfully transitioned from Washington State management to private maritime industry financed and managed operations. The maritime shipping industry established an ERTV contract (vessel under charter to the Washington State Maritime Cooperative) to maintain an industry funded standby towing capability at Neah Bay. As required by statute the U.S.Coast Guard and Ecology may separately contract for the services of the ERTV stationed at Neah Bay to respond to an emerging maritime casualty, or as a precautionary measure.

Since 1999, the tug has deployed to stand by or directly assist 46 vessels that were either completely disabled or had reduced maneuvering ability. On 11 of these responses the tug had to take the disabled vessels in tow to prevent them from drifting onto the rocks and spilling oil. The actions taken in those 11 cases helped prevent a combined spill potential of nearly 5 million gallons of oil.

 

Current Press Release

Last Updated

Neah Bay tug shifts from public to private funding July 1

 

Incident Report

 

ATB Commitment - NEW!

August 2010

Tug Responses

 
Summaries of responses since 1999 August 2010
Synopsis of state funded emergency response tug from 1999-2010 (PDF) NEW! August 2010
Map of responses: 1999-2008  

Contingency Plan Requirements

 

Letter from State Legislature to industry

January 2010

Compliance tug letter to industry

January 2010

Response tug letter to industry

October 2009

Guidance for tug requirement

October 2009

Process timeline

October 2009

Tug Progress Reports

 

Industry Progress Report (October 2009)

January 2010

Industry Progress Report (December 2009)

January 2010

 

 

 

 

 

The Jeffrey Foss stationed at Neah Bay.
Photo taken by Mark Crawford - MaritimeTraffic.com
 

LATEST NEWS

Emergency response tug escorting tug and barge to Port Angeles for inspection, possible repairs

Emergency response tug towing stricken containership

RELATED INFORMATION

Escort Tug Studies & Reports

Overview of Response Tug (PDF)