Lady Phyl derelict vessel in Neah Bay

Status updates

May 28, 2009

Discovery:

During an Ecology and Coast Guard derelict vessel assessment project in Neah Bay, the Lady Phyl was found on May 19, 2009, to have an estimated 200 gallons of waste oil & diesel floating on 1,000 gallons of water in the bottom of vessel. The vessel could only be accessed via water as it was tied precariously to a piling and unused dock in poor condition.

Actions Taken:

Because of the significant pollution threat posed by this derelict vessel, the Coast Guard hired an environmental cleanup contractor to remove the oil and contaminated water. A total of 1,500 gallons of oil and oil-contaminated water was removed from the Lady Phyl including 300 gallons of diesel from the starboard fuel tank.

Oil spill containment boom from the Makah Tribe Oil Spill Response Trailer (obtained through the Ecology grant program) was used to circle to the vessel after it was identified as a problem. The boom was deployed by MSRC personnel in Neah Bay at no cost as part of a cooperative effort with the Makah Tribe, Port of Neah Bay and Ecology.

Because the Lady Phyl was determined to be in poor repair and with substantial damage to the hull, the Washington Department of Natural Resources declared the vessel an emergency, took temporary custody and moved the vessel to the Port of Neah Bay Marina after the oil was removed. The vessel is currently undergoing a 30-day DNR “Notice of Intent to Take Custody” process. DNR intends to take formal and full custody of the vessel on June 22, 2009, in order to have the Lady Phyl properly disposed of.