Oil Spill Fine Raises Questions for Puget Sound’s Future

The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Liberty Marine Corporation $32,000 for a 2023 oil spill near Manchester State Park that released 199 gallons of waste oil into Puget Sound. While the incident did not appear to cause immediate harm to wildlife, the location and circumstances raise important concerns for the long-term health of our waters and for the species that call them home.

The spill occurred when a crewmember overfilled the ship’s incinerator waste oil service tank during a transfer from a holding tank. The excess oil leaked through a clogged vent system and entered the water through the ship’s rainwater drainage system. Ecology determined the spill was preventable, citing ignored safety procedures, a silenced high-level alarm, and delays in notifying state and federal agencies.

Although crews recovered 47 gallons from the ship’s funnel deck, none was recovered from the water. The rest dispersed into the central Puget Sound, an area rich in marine life. This region, stretching from north of Vashon Island to the southern edge of Bainbridge, supports salmon, herring, forage fish, seabirds, seals, and the endangered Southern Resident orcas. Even without visible impacts, oil can enter the food web and potentially affect organisms long after the sheen has disappeared.

Oil exposure can be subtle yet damaging. Fish eggs and larvae are especially vulnerable, and seabirds that encounter even trace amounts of oil can lose the waterproofing of their feathers, making it harder to stay warm. While 199 gallons may seem small compared to major spills, repeated smaller incidents can have cumulative effects, especially in an ecosystem already under stress from vessel traffic, noise pollution, and climate change.

For Vashon residents, the event is another reminder of the Puget Sound’s delicate balance. Our island’s proximity to shipping lanes means that what happens in these waters happens in our backyard. Preventing future spills depends on rigorous safety standards, swift reporting, and an understanding that the Sound is not simply a waterway for commerce. It is a living system that sustains us all.

Liberty Marine has 30 days to appeal the fine.