SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Damaged and sunken vessels have led to state-issued penalties in Skagit County.

The Washington State Department of Ecology says they’ve issued a $1000 fine against Foss Maritime Company after one of its vessels was damaged and around five gallons of hydraulic oil spilled into Fidalgo Bay. The company is accused of not notifying Ecology about the spill in a timely manner.

In a separate case, an independent owner was fined $2400 after marina staff in Shelter Bay noticed a sheen forming around his boat. Gear oil and transmission fluid had been leaking out of the boat for about 10 days before the spill was reported.

Other noteworthy penalties include an $18,000 fine against the owner of the Aleutian Isle, which sank in the Haro Strait in 2022 near San Juan Island.

Ecology noted that while the owner of the vessel was cooperative with investigators and assisted in cleanup efforts, the fine was issued due to strict liability laws surrounding oil spills.