Please use the below “WSMC’S SPILL RESPONSE POLICY AND MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITY” as a quick reference and information sheet to be distributed to your principals and vessel crews.  This document may also be downloaded under Files & Documents

The Washington State Maritime Cooperative (WSMC) has been in operation since July 1, 1995.  Since that time we have assisted Members with many small spills as well as a few larger more significant spills.  We have been successful in calling in an appropriate quick response in all cases when prompt notification was provided to WSMC.  There have been several cases where a delayed or no notification has been made to WSMC.  These were minor spills and there was no significant consequence to the environment, but State authorities investigated several cases.  In any oil spill, large or small, or just a threat of a spill, a spiller may be penalized if the required notification procedures are not followed.  Under Washington State law, it is the responsibility of the spiller to follow its State approved oil spill contingency plan.  Unless an enrolled Member of WSMC has a different prior agreement with the State, State law requires you to follow your enrollment agreement to use the WSMC oil spill contingency plan.  For you, that means to call WSMC immediately in accordance with the WSMC Field Guide and Placard that should be aboard and in the pilot house of each of your vessels.  Your crews should be trained in the use of the Field Guide and Placard.  For that purpose, WSMC has a video available to you.  If you do not yet have a copy of our video, please advise us, and we will be happy to send you as many as you need.

In accordance with WSMC’s Bylaws and your enrollment agreement, in the event of an enrolled Member Spill or potential spill within the area of interest (generally Washington State waters except for the Columbia River system), the Member is required to promptly notify WSMC of the location and known nature and size of the spill.  Upon WSMC’s receipt of notice of a Member Spill, WSMC’s incident commander will be notified and shall, without further approval of the Member, arrange for provision of appropriate spill response management and cleanup services, in accordance with WSMC’s oil spill response contingency plan.

The Member is responsible for the cost of management and cleanup operations. WSMC costs that are the Member’s responsibility include, but are not limited to, charges for WSMC’s Incident Commander and other personnel, Marine Exchange communication charges, and response contractor costs.

WSMC strives to take the appropriate actions on behalf of the Member to minimize environmental damage.  WSMC’s Incident Commander is experienced in oil spill cleanup and will evaluate the spill and necessary cleanup actions.  If the Incident Commander determines through reliable sources at the sight of the spill that the necessary actions are already being taken to clean the spill or that the spill is not recoverable, he will not call in cleanup resources unnecessarily.  However, if there is any doubt, he will take the prudent course of action, and call in response resources.

In the case where response resources are not called in by WSMC’s Incident Commander and it is not necessary for the Incident Commander to respond to the scene or a command center, the Member will not be charged for the Incident Commander’s time.  There may be Marine Exchange communications and administration costs charged to WSMC; however it has been the policy of WSMC to absorb these charges in most cases where a WSMC field response is not made.

In summary, it is of utmost importance, required by state law, and to the Member’s best interests to call WSMC immediately in the event of a spill.  In addition to mobilizing the appropriate and best response on behalf of the Member, WSMC also assists the Member in making all the notifications required under the law.  

Thank you in advance for your participation in and support of this policy.  Please call me (425 486-3501) if you desire more information or have any questions.