Date of incident: July 22, 1991.
Location: Off the northern coast of Washington State, approximately 25
miles northwest of Cape Flattery.
Case status: Settled December 13, 1994.
Restoration completed: August 1, 2006. Undergoing restoration monitoring.
Overview: On July 22, 1991, the Chinese freighter Tuo Hai collided
with the Japanese fishing vessel Tenyo Maru approximately 25 miles
northwest of Cape Flattery, off the northern coast of Washington State, and a
short distance north of the United States-Canada border. The Tenyo Maru quickly sank in about 90 fathoms of water (540 feet). As it sank, the vessel began releasing approximately 354,800 gallons of intermediate fuel oil and 97,800 gallons of diesel. 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.