The Kitsap Sun’s Christopher Dunagan has the story:
On July 1, the commercial shipping industry in Washington state is required by law to take over operation of an emergency rescue tug in Neah Bay.
The tug is designed to assist ships that go adrift in the treacherous entry to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.
But how to allocate the costs among the various carriers still has not been resolved. Since negotiations began last summer, a philosophical divide has kept oil shippers and cargo shippers from reaching an agreement.
“I’m the eternal optimist and believe that all stakeholders will come together and be able to fund this project,” said Frank Holmes, Northwest manager for the Western State Petroleum Association.
