Board of pilotage commissioners authorized to adopt rules — Grays Harbor pilotage district — Tug escort requirements/safety measures for certain oil tankers.
RCW 88.16.250
in effect(1) The board of pilotage commissioners may adopt rules to implement this section. The rules may include tug escort requirements and other safety measures for oil tankers of greater than forty thousand deadweight tons, all articulated tug barges, and other towed waterborne vessels or barges within a two-mile radius of the Grays Harbor pilotage district as defined in RCW 88.16.050 . (2)(a) Prior to proposing a draft rule, the board of pilotage commissioners must consult with the department of ecology, the United States coast guard, the Grays Harbor safety committee, area tribes, public ports, local governments, and other appropriate entities. The board of pilotage commissioners may not adopt rules under this section unless a state agency or a local jurisdiction, for a facility within Grays Harbor that is required to have a contingency plan pursuant to chapter 90.56 RCW: (i) Makes a final determination or issues a final permit after January 1, 2015, to site a new facility; or (ii) Provides authority to an existing facility to process or receive crude oil for the first time. (b) This subsection does not apply to a transmission pipeline or railroad facility. (3) A rule adopted under this section must: (a) Be designed to achieve best achievable protection as defined in RCW 88.46.010 ; (b) Ensure that any escort tugs used have an aggregate shaft horsepower equivalent to at least five percent of the deadweight tons of the escorted oil tanker or articulated tug barge; and (c) Ensure that escort tugs have sufficient mechanical capabilities to provide for safe escort. (4) The provisions adopted under this section may not include rules affecting pilotage. This section does not affect any existing authority to establish pilotage requirements. (5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Articulated tug barge" means a tank barge and a towing vessel joined by hinged or articulated fixed mechanical equipment affixed or connecting to the stern of the tank barge. (b) "Oil tanker" means a self-propelled deep draft tank vessel designed to transport oil in bulk. "Oil tanker" does not include an articulated tug barge tank vessel. (c) "Waterborne vessel or barge" means any ship, barge, or other watercraft capable of traveling on the navigable waters of this state and capable of transporting any crude oil or petroleum product in quantities of ten thousand gallons or more for purposes other than providing fuel for its motor or engine.
(1) The board of pilotage commissioners may adopt rules to implement this section. The rules may include tug escort requirements and other safety measures for oil tankers of greater than forty thousand deadweight tons, all articulated tug barges, and other towed waterborne vessels or barges within a two-mile radius of the Grays Harbor pilotage district as defined in RCW 88.16.050 .
(2)(a) Prior to proposing a draft rule, the board of pilotage commissioners must consult with the department of ecology, the United States coast guard, the Grays Harbor safety committee, area tribes, public ports, local governments, and other appropriate entities. The board of pilotage commissioners may not adopt rules under this section unless a state agency or a local jurisdiction, for a facility within Grays Harbor that is required to have a contingency plan pursuant to chapter 90.56 RCW:
(i) Makes a final determination or issues a final permit after January 1, 2015, to site a new facility; or
(ii) Provides authority to an existing facility to process or receive crude oil for the first time.
(b) This subsection does not apply to a transmission pipeline or railroad facility.
(3) A rule adopted under this section must:
(a) Be designed to achieve best achievable protection as defined in RCW 88.46.010 ;
(b) Ensure that any escort tugs used have an aggregate shaft horsepower equivalent to at least five percent of the deadweight tons of the escorted oil tanker or articulated tug barge; and
(c) Ensure that escort tugs have sufficient mechanical capabilities to provide for safe escort.
(4) The provisions adopted under this section may not include rules affecting pilotage. This section does not affect any existing authority to establish pilotage requirements.
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Articulated tug barge" means a tank barge and a towing vessel joined by hinged or articulated fixed mechanical equipment affixed or connecting to the stern of the tank barge.
(b) "Oil tanker" means a self-propelled deep draft tank vessel designed to transport oil in bulk. "Oil tanker" does not include an articulated tug barge tank vessel.
(c) "Waterborne vessel or barge" means any ship, barge, or other watercraft capable of traveling on the navigable waters of this state and capable of transporting any crude oil or petroleum product in quantities of ten thousand gallons or more for purposes other than providing fuel for its motor or engine.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.16&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026