Washington State Year-Round Rescue Tug

On March 24th, Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed a measure that requires shippers, tankers and other large vessels to pay for a year-round rescue tug at Neah Bay. The bill's primary sponsor was long-time Surfrider activist and past regional manager, State Senator Kevin Ranker. For Washington chapters, it is hard to imagine a better way to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill than by winning this long-fought campaign. Not long after the tragedy in Prince William Sound, Surfrider members and activists began advocating for a rescue tug to be stationed at Neah Bay. The tug aids ships in danger of spilling oil, forming a strong defensive line against oil spills in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and on Washington's outer coast. All of Washington's Surfrider Chapters worked hard on this issue for several years.