Source: The Maruha Corporation and the Japan Ship Owners' Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (the owners and
the insurers of the Tenyo Maru), Tianjin Ocean Shipping Company, the
China Ocean Shipping Co. and The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance
Association (Bermuda) Limited (the owners, the operators and the insurers of
the Tuo Hai).
Release: The vessel had approximately 354,800 gallons of intermediate fuel oil and
97,800 gallons of diesel aboard.
Primary Injury:
The resulting slick was carried south and east by currents and wind and
ultimately affected much of the Washington and a portion of the Oregon coasts.
The most immediately apparent injury from the spill was its impact on seabirds
and kelp. A large number of birds were killed including common murres,
Federal-threatened marbled murrelets, auklets, tufted puffins, and pigeon
guillemots. Kelp beds from Cape Alava north to Tatoosh Island, and from Tatoosh
Island east to Waadah Island were impact by the oil, which lingered in the kelp
beds for several weeks.
The most heavily affected area, the northern
coast of Washington State, has immense biological, cultural and
aesthetic importance and is now included within the Olympic Coast
National Marine Sanctuary (officially designated in July 1994). A
highly productive, nearly pristine coastal environment of great
scenic beauty, most of the affected area was within the Olympic
National Park and the Makah Indian Reservation.
