Washington State Maritime Cooperative: A Legacy of First Response in Washington Waters
More than three decades ago, in the wake of devastating oil spills like the 1988 Nestucca barge incident and the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, the State of Washington took decisive action to protect its marine waters by establishing the Oil Spill Response System – Maritime Commission Act (Substitute Senate Bill 6701). The result was the creation of the Washington State Maritime Commission in 1990—a state-established entity tasked with developing an oil spill first response system capable of mobilizing containment and cleanup resources within the crucial first 24 hours of a spill.
Empowered by Chapter 117, Laws of 1990, the Commission’s mission was clear: to safeguard the rich biodiversity and critical maritime trade routes of Washington State. It was authorized to assess vessels operating in state waters, mobilize dedicated resources, and establish an emergency communications network and oil spill contingency plan for commercial vessels.
For the first time, the maritime industry had a unified, state-supported structure to ensure immediate oil spill response for vessels without their own approved plans.
From Commission to Cooperative: A Strategic Shift
By the mid-1990s, Washington State adopted a new approach to oil spill preparedness: rather than operating the response system directly, the State would regulate and oversee an industry-led cooperative. This model gave vessel operators greater responsibility for contingency planning while keeping strong oversight with the Department of Ecology.
The shift allowed for greater operational flexibility, cost-sharing among industry members, and a more responsive system aligned with the realities of maritime operations. This policy change set the stage for the formation of the Washington State Maritime Cooperative.
In 1995, the Legislature passed House Bill 1407, which formally dissolved the state-run Maritime Commission and authorized the creation of the Washington State Maritime Cooperative. With that, WSMC was officially born—an industry-supported nonprofit dedicated to oil spill planning and first response.
WSMC Today: Mission Maintained, Capacity Expanded
Although the governance structure changed, the mission did not. WSMC continues to operate with full approval and oversight from the Washington Department of Ecology, providing the only Ecology-approved umbrella oil spill contingency plan for commercial vessels in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor.
WSMC remains focused on rapid response, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection, offering:
A 24/7 manned call center and emergency notification system
Two on-call Incident Commanders
A deployable Incident Management Team ready for the first 72 hours of a spill
Strategically pre-positioned equipment in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Full compliance with WAC 173-182 contingency planning standards
WSMC also works closely with industry and government partners through exercises, planning workgroups, and advisory roles to help shape the future of oil spill preparedness in Washington.
A Continued Commitment
As WSMC looks ahead to the next generation of maritime preparedness—through efforts like Ecology’s Best Achievable Protection (BAP) rulemaking—WSMC remains committed to its founding principle: rapid, effective first response in defense of Washington’s waters.
We are proud to carry this legacy forward.