NEAH BAY – Washington’s northern Pacific coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca will get about six fewer weeks of protection this fall and winter from the rescue tug Gladiator than usual.
The state Department of Ecology on Thursday announced an extension of its contract with Crowley Marine Services of Jacksonville, Fla., which owns and operates the vessel.
Ecology and Crowley expect to sign the contract early next week, said Ecology spokesman Curt Hart.
It will call for Crowley to receive $8,750 per day – about $1.45 million – which is $250 per day more than last year’s contract.
However, the Legislature did not appropriate costs for fuel, for which Crowley received $1,500 per day last season.
That means the Gladiator will leave Neah Bay sometime in mid-March, Hart said, six weeks sooner than this year’s departure on May 3.
