Canadian Department of National Defence Fined $100,000 Over Bunker Spill

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday April 21, 2016

Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) has been ordered to pay $100,000 under the Fisheries Act for a bunker spill that occurred on May 8, 2013 in Halifax Harbour while preparations were being made for a bunkering operation later that day, Canadian media reports.

The HMCS St. John's, which was was anchored near Dartmouth Cove, is said to have spilled between 8,000 to 10,000 litres of MDO into the harbour's waters while the bunkers were being transferred between tanks.

As Ship & Bunker reported at the time of the spill, Navy Capt. Angus Topshee said that, while the leak was stopped as soon as it was discovered, the spill was still "significant."

While the bunker spill is said to have resulted in numerous reports of sheening in the harbour, as well as a strong smell of diesel fuel within the area, the environment department determined at the time that the spill "should have a minimum environmental impact."

However, on January 30, 2015, Environment and Climate Change Canada laid charges against DND under the Fisheries Act in relation to the spill, which DND pled guilty to on April 11 in a Halifax Provincial Court.

$98,000 of the $100,000 fine will be put toward Canada's Environmental Damages Fund, said environmental officials.