The insurance company for the Port of Chinook has filed a legal claim against a towing company over a damaged dredge.

A marine towing company faces a $250,000 lawsuit after a dredge from the Port of Chinook fell into the water between the port and Astoria in 2016.

Classic Towing and Salvage, based in Ilwaco, Washington, was attempting to transfer the dredge to Astoria and hit rough seas, causing the dredge to flounder, the lawsuit said.

The insurance tort claim, filed Monday in Clatsop County Circuit Court, alleges workers for the towing company were negligent and did not close vertical pipes inside the dredge prior to towing.

“Coastal Towing and Salvage’s breach of its duty was the direct and proximate cause of the loss,” the lawsuit said.

Fuel from the dredge was pumped out of the water before causing environmental damage, Port of Chinook Manager Guy Glenn Jr. told the Chinook Observer at the time. Because the incident took place in December, weather also played a factor in the cleanup.

The port’s insurance company, Enduris Washington, hired Ballard Marine, a salvage contractor, to help clean up the damage. The $250,000 represents the amount of money the insurance company paid for cleaning and salvaging, as well as the damage to the dredge.

Representatives from the port and the towing company could not immediately be reached for comment. The towing company has 20 days to respond after the lawsuit is filed.