April 10, 2015 by Canadian Underwriter
VANCOUVER – The bulk carrier ship that has been confirmed as the source of an estimated 2,700 litre bunker fuel spill into Vancouver’s English Bay was on its maiden voyage.
The source and the kind of fuel that was spilled answers only a few of the many questions from the public, politicians and lead agencies about the disaster that polluted one of the city’s most popular destinations.
Yvette Myers, regional director of Marine Safety and Security of Transport Canada, said there appeared to be a malfunction in the vessel, which just came out of the shipyard in February.
The MV Marathassa was constructed in Japan and was in Vancouver to collect grain when it began to leak on Wednesday.
“We certainly believe that it was unintentional,” she said, referring to the malfunction.
“Transport Canada really needs to determine the root cause.”
Containment boom being used in the waters off English Bay. Crews trying to reduce further pollution on shorelines pic.twitter.com/zf7oqbZJcR
— Chad Dey (@chad_dey) April 9, 2015
Both Premier Christy Clark and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said in separate news conferences Friday that they have concerns about the speed of the emergency response.
Robertson said if the spill was larger it would have been a “catastrophe.”
Clark said that had the province been the lead agency, it could have done a better job.
“And if that means that in the future, the coast guard is relieved of its lead in this and starts taking direction from the province, then perhaps that’s a better way to do it.”
Clark said the province has a lot of experience in dealing with similar disasters like forest fires that encroach on provincial communities.
Related: Crews work to contain fuel spill in Vancouver’s English Bay
Both the mayor and the premier noted it took six hours to get an oil-absorbing boom around the ship that was suspected of leaking the fuel.
But Roger Girouard, the Canadian Coast Guard commissioner overseeing the response to the spill, said initial reports about the fuel leak were murky and there had to be an assessment.
Coast Guard continues clean up in the water between West Van and Stanley Park. The last significant portion of spill pic.twitter.com/FFXniXNaBe
— Chad Dey (@chad_dey) April 10, 2015
“Was there a period of time when we weren’t quite sure what we were dealing with? Absolutely. That’s not atypical in this type of a scenario,” he said.
Girouard said about 80 per cent of the bunker fuel spilled has been recovered.
“There is, at this point in time, no further product being released into the environment,” he said.
“We’re confident that we have our arms around any new spillage or leakage and will keep watching on that through the course of (Friday).”
The fuel spread over water and land in a purple-blue sheen and has prompted safety warnings from the city telling people to avoid downtown beaches and not to touch the fuel.
The Vancouver Park Board said city staff are patrolling English Bay, and Second Beach and Third Beach in Stanley Park, telling people to avoid the water until the health and ecological implications are clear.
12 days ago,i swam in #EnglishBay, a curious seal,herons/eagles/otters/geese/ppl enjoyed the water b4 #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/ogugVgUCOV
— PaulGallant CHE PhDc (@HealthWorksBC) April 10, 2015
Park Board Chairman John Coupar said in a news release that staff are “very concerned about the fallout of this oil spill on our pristine beaches.”
The board says several water birds with oiled feathers were spotted in Stanley Park, but went back into the water before they could be examined.
Girouard said owners of the Marathassa will be on the hook for the costs related to the spill, and a team will soon be working on the legal claims process.
Oiled bufflehead ducks rescued from Second Beach on English Bay. Critical condition @WRAofBC #cbc #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/lfJc9OrmY4
— Kirk Williams (@CBCKirkWilliams) April 10, 2015
Thorough clean up now: Third Beach. Seawall fully open while crews work. 12 oiled birds spotted this am #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/xEjSk1wgph
— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) April 11, 2015
This clump of bunker fuel oil appears to be breaking up. #cbc #VanOilSpill pic.twitter.com/XHKvorFbpb
— Kirk Williams (@CBCKirkWilliams) April 9, 2015
In photos: Scenes from the oil spill in Vancouver’s English Bay http://t.co/IT367uyYFA From @GlobeBC pic.twitter.com/RDDTbQDOX5
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) April 10, 2015
Tanker spill in #EnglishBay making it to shore. Could be bunker fuel. Stay out of water, animals too. @GlobalBC pic.twitter.com/BTv6t1NQ07
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mdash; Marsha Gabriel (@mgabrielGlobal) April 9, 2015
LIVE: Aerial view of oil spill cleanup in Vancouver’s English Bay http://t.co/6K3gOKwQEt pic.twitter.com/2BPQb0Ukel
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) April 10, 2015
Oil can be seen topping the waters around English Bay this morning @News1130radio #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/Xm6j1DlmFa
— Chad Dey (@chad_dey) April 9, 2015
Ship cleaning. Look closely, left of white line at water level + see section cleaned in 15 minutes. #vanoilspill pic.twitter.com/qT202Cmvb3
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) April 11, 2015
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