Washington state Department of Ecology has levied its first fine on a Greek shipping company of US$8,500 for not having an oil spill readiness plan, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal.

"Preventing spills is our highest priority, and we expect the same from the vessels that we regulate," said Linda Pilkey-Jarvis of the Department of Ecology.

Marmaras Navigation Co. Ltd. was fined for operating a cargo ship in the state without having a state-approved oil spill plan, required since last October. The new law requires ships to have their own approved spill readiness plan or be enrolled in a plan with a non-profit organisation that has Washington-state approved plans.

State officials said they found that the Theodoros P arrived on May 26 without a spill plan. On May 30, the state ordered the ship to have a plan. The next day, the company enrolled in a state-approved blanket readiness plan operated by the non-profit Washington State Maritime Co-operative.

State officials said they could have fined the company $100,000 a day for not having a plan.