Concerning requirements of oil tankers operating in restricted waters.

HB 2436 regulates oil tanker operations in Washington state waters by establishing size-based escort requirements. It prohibits tankers over 125,000 deadweight tons from operating east of a line from Discovery Island to New Dungeness Light without U.S. Coast Guard authorization. Tankers between 40,000-125,000 deadweight tons must use tugs with minimum 3,000 horsepower or 5% of the tanker’s deadweight tonnage (whichever is greater) in Puget Sound, including Rosario Strait. Smaller tankers (5,000-40,000 deadweight tons) and certain oil barges in Rosario Strait face similar escort rules, with exceptions for bunkering vessels, cargo barges, and ballast vessels. The bill clarifies definitions for terms like "oil tanker" and "articulated tug barge" to apply these rules consistently.