BREMERTON, Wash. -- The Unified Command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology, Suquamish Tribe, and the Port of Bremerton, has concluded response operations associated with the Tug Dominion at the Bremerton Marina. The vessel sank on Sept. 17, and the removal of the vessel is now complete.
The Tug Dominion was a 130-foot World War II era wooden hull vessel that was privately owned.
The Coast Guard opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and hired contractors to mitigate pollution threats, which included destruction and removal of the vessel. Crews deployed boom, skimmers, and absorbents throughout the response to recover oil and protect sensitive habitat. Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) teams monitored shorelines near the incident site throughout the response. What little sheen was observed was considered nonrecoverable.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided scientific support to the unified command throughout the response.
During destruction of the vessel, a debris curtain successfully contained the majority of oiled debris. On limited occasions, light oil sheen escaped containment; however, field observers continuously monitored the water and shoreline and identified no recoverable oil.
In total, approximately 22,018 gallons of oil/water mix, 190 tons of solid waste and debris, and 60 tons of metal were recovered during this response. Crews also decontaminated 61 vessels in the Bremerton Marina. Contaminated debris will be transported to a hazardous waste facility in Oregon for proper disposal.
Wildlife experts were onsite daily throughout the destruction process. No impacted wildlife were observed, and no orcas were seen in the immediate area during active response operations.
A limited amount of containment boom will remain in place within the marina for the next several days while crews demobilize response equipment.
“The case showcased great coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal governments,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sean DiGeorge, Incident Management Chief for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “We came together in a Unified Command and overcome significant challenges to respond to a significant environmental threat”
“This incident serves as a reminder to boat owners to minimize the amount of fuel they store onboard,” said Dave Byers, State On Scene Coordinator for the Washington Department of Ecology. “Oil is toxic to the aquatic environment and can cause harm to Washington’s environmental, cultural, and economic resources.”
”The communication efforts of the entire team truly contributed to the timeliness and the success of the project” stated Jim Rothlin, CEO of the Port of Bremerton. “We are extremely grateful for the participation and achievements of the entire Unified Command.” More information regarding the response can be found on the Department of Ecology’s website here: Dominion tug sinking - Washington State Department of Ecology
Individuals or businesses adversely affected by the oil spill may be eligible for compensation. Damage claims should be submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC) Claims Division.
For assistance or questions, contact the NPFC Claims Division at 1-800-280-7118 or hqs-smb-npfc-claimsinfo@uscg.mil. More Information is available at: https://www.uscg.mil/Mariners/National-Pollution-Funds-Center/Claims/
Pictures for the response can be found here: Tug Dominion Response