The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined owners of the
Gaz Diamond propane tanker $75,500 for
spilling oil into the Port Angeles harbor in May 2002.
The Gaz Diamond is owned by the Naftomar Shipping and Trading Company
Ltd., based in Greece.
The ship spilled 1,188 gallons of fuel oil when its tanks overfilled
while refueling.
The oil washed up on nearby beaches and docks along the southern
shore of the Ediz Hook peninsula near the
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station. Cleanup efforts lasted five days and
involved oil skimming vessels, thousands of feet
of oil containment boom and hundreds of oil snares staked along the
shore.
Oil collected in nearby commercial fish pens, on docks, log booms,
private boats, the public boat launch, a U.S.
Coast Guard vessel, and the Puget Sound Pilot Station. Three
recreational divers and two dogs also were
reported to be covered in oil.
The most heavily affected natural resources were in the inter-tidal
zone along the beaches, including eel-grass
beds, which are an essential habitat for a variety of marine species.
"The truly unfortunate aspect of this spill was that it didn't have
to happen," said Dale Jensen,
spills manager for
Ecology. "Ships and boats are refueled in Washington waters every
day, and people need to take the necessary
precautions to avoid spills."
In February 2003, Ecology also assessed Naftomar $41,000 to
compensate for the damage caused to the
environment. That assessment has been paid.