Seattle barge operator fined for 2006 fuel oil spill

Seattle barge operator fined for 2006 fuel oil spill The state of Washington has fined a Seattle tug-and-barge operator $14,000 over a December 2006 diesel fuel spill in the Columbia River.
   Olympic Tug & Barge was fined following a state Department of Ecology investigation into the 50-gallon spill that occurred during a fuel transfer at the Port of Vancouver, Wash.
   The WDOE found that Olympic was negligent for the spill due to improper positioning of equipment, improper use of transfer equipment, and inexperience of the lead worker on the transfer.
   The spill occurred when the tankerman aboard an Olympic lightering barge lost control of the fuel hose he was using to transfer fuel to a car carrier berthed at the port. The hose swung out over the side of the barge, spilling fuel onto the deck of the barge and into the water.
   The WDOE also fined the owner of the car carrier, Malaysia-based Barber Ship Management, $1,000 for its part in the incident.
   According to WDOE, Olympic has since fired the tankerman involved for not following the firm's internal policies during the incident.