NEAH BAY — As the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. Thursday, a tug boat paid for by the shipping industry will relieve a publicly funded vessel of its duty of protecting nearby waters and shorelines from oil spills.
This maritime changing of the guard at Neah Bay is required by a state bill that was signed into law last year at a time when the future of the emergency response tug was uncertain.
The state had paid to keep a tug at the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula — first during the winter months and then year-round since July 2008 — since 2000 to prevent disabled vessels from running aground.
Keeping a tug at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca year-round had cost $3.6 million annually.
In response to dwindling funds, the state Legislature passed a bill last year sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, to require the shipping industry to fund its own emergency response tug.
“Under state law, this proven, vital safety net for the Olympic Peninsula and our outer coast will remain permanently poised and ready to protect our shores from devastating oil spills,” said Van De Wege in a written statement.
“The measure also properly shifts the funding burden from the state taxpayers to our maritime industry, which poses the greatest risk.”
Curt Hart, state Department of Ecology spokesman, said the current tug is leaving because the shipping industries are contracting with a different company.
The law requires the new tug to at least have the same capabilities, he said.
The Makah tribe has been one of the strongest backers of the law.
“Our environment, our economy, and our culture depend on keeping our resources protected from oil spills,” said Makah Tribal Chairman Michael Lawrence in a statement.
Last year, 9,600 vessels made nearly 9,600 shipping transits through the Strait.
The publicly funded tug has assisted 45 partially or fully disabled ships during the past 10 years.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.