Oil tanker escort

AN ACT Relating to requirements of oil tankers operating in 1
restricted waters; and amending RCW 88.16.190. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 88.16.190 and 2019 c 289 s 2 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) Any oil tanker, whether enrolled or registered, of greater 6
than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 deadweight tons 7
shall be prohibited from proceeding beyond a point east of a line 8
extending from Discovery Island light south to New Dungeness light, 9
unless authorized by the United States coast guard, pursuant to 33 10
C.F.R. Sec. 165.1303. 11
(2)(a)(i) An oil tanker of ((forty)) 40,000 to ((one hundred 12
twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 deadweight tons may operate in the 13
waters east of a line extending from Discovery Island light south to 14
New Dungeness light and all points in the Puget Sound area, including 15
but not limited to the San Juan Islands and connected waterways and 16
the waters south of Admiralty Inlet, to the extent that these waters 17
are within the territorial boundaries of Washington, only if the oil 18
tanker is under the escort of a tug or tugs that have an aggregate 19
shaft horsepower ((equivalent to)) of at least 3,000 or five percent 20
Z-0444.2
HOUSE BILL 2436
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Lekanoff, Ramel, Parshley, Ryu, Peterson, Stearns,
Pollet, and Reed; by request of Board of Pilotage Commissioners
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
p. 1 HB 2436
of the deadweight tons of the escorted oil tanker , whichever is 1
greater. 2
(ii) Effective September 1, 2020, the following may operate in 3
Rosario Strait and connected waterways to the east only if under the 4
escort of a tug or tugs that have an aggregate shaft horsepower 5
equivalent to at least five percent of the deadweight tons of a 6
((forty thousand)) 40,000 deadweight ton oil tanker: (A) Oil tankers 7
of between ((five thousand )) 5,000 and ((forty thousand )) 40,000 8
deadweight tons; and (B) both articulated tug barges and towed 9
waterborne vessels or barges that are: (I) Designed to transport oil 10
in bulk internal to the hull; and (II) greater than ((five thousand)) 11
5,000 deadweight tons. 12
(iii) The requirements of (a)(ii) of this subsection: (A) Do not 13
apply to vessels providing bunkering or refueling services; (B) do 14
not apply to a towed general cargo deck barge; and (C) may be 15
adjusted or suspended by rule by the board of pilotage commissioners, 16
consistent with RCW 88.16.260(1)(c). 17
(b) An oil tanker, articulated tug barge, or towed waterborne 18
vessel or barge in ballast or when unladen is not required to be 19
under the escort of a tug. 20
(c) A tanker assigned a deadweight of less than ((forty 21
thousand)) 40,000 deadweight tons at the time of construction or 22
reconstruction as reported in Lloyd's Register of Ships is not 23
subject to the provisions of RCW 88.16.170 and 88.16.180.24
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 25
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.26
(a) "Articulated tug barge" means a tank barge and a towing 27
vessel joined by hinged or articulated fixed mechanical equipment 28
affixed or connecting to the stern of the tank barge.29
(b) "Oil tanker" means a self-propelled deep draft tank vessel 30
designed to transport oil in bulk. "Oil tanker" does not include an 31
articulated tug barge tank vessel. 32
(c) "Towed general cargo deck barge" means a waterborne vessel or 33
barge designed to carry cargo on deck. 34
(d) "Waterborne vessel or barge" means any ship, barge, or other 35
watercraft capable of traveling on the navigable waters of this state 36
and capable of transporting any crude oil or petroleum product in 37
p. 2 HB 2436
quantities of ((ten thousand )) 10,000 gallons or more for purposes 1
other than providing fuel for its motor or engine. 2
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p. 3 HB 2436