Americas News
Vancouver Bunkering Rule Change Clarified
Port Metro Vancouver, Canada, has clarified to Ship & Bunker a 2013 change to bunkering rules at the port following recent criticism of the move.
Ship & Bunker was contacted by a number of readers who expressed concern after comments in a local media report, which appeared to incorrectly link a recent spill at the port to bunkering activity, were then republished by some of the wider bunkering press.
The report quoted Eoin Finn, co-founder of a local activist group, saying he had "discovered" a bunkering rule change that meant "a spill is dead certain to happen" that will be larger in size than the April 8 bunker spill in Vancouver from the Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier Marathassa.
It also quoted Tony Toxopeus, a retired Canadian Coast Guard captain, as saying it was "obvious there's going to be a higher risk of a spill."
In April Transport Canada said the spill from Marathassa was caused by a vessel malfunction, and has since confirmed to Ship & Bunker that Marathassa was not bunkering in English Bay, where the spill took place, or elsewhere in Vancouver.
Bunkering Rule Change
With regards to the rule change, Port Metro Vancouver's John Parker-Jervis told Ship & Bunker the move had been made back in 2013 to improve safety.
"The safe bunkering practices and procedures were amended in January of 2013 to allow for bunkering of vessels 275m in length or greater in English Bay. This amendment was conducted to allow for better management of vessel traffic in the inner harbour," Port Metro Vancouver said.
"Inner harbour anchorages sufficient to allow larger vessels to bunker are limited to two, while English Bay has several more. As bunkering of vessels is not permitted at Roberts Bank, this amendment was necessary to provide an option for larger vessels from Roberts Bank to bunker outside of the inner harbour if necessary, and to avoid unnecessary transits of large vessels through the First Narrows."
The port also noted that "bunkering practices and procedures have been in effect in the harbour in Vancouver for decades."
The comments by Finn received sharp criticism from retired captain Bernie Smith, who says he has over 25 years experience at sea, and described the report as "alarmist."
"Eoin Finn appears to have little or no knowledge of how vessels operate," Smith told Ship & Bunker, adding that while spills do happen, they were rare, and even rarer to happen during bunkering.
"Bunkering is such a common, everyday practice all over the world. I have served on cargo ships, tankers, bulkers, even an oceangoing tug, and I have seen bunkering take place literally hundreds of times without incident.
"Even in parts of the world where perhaps standards are not as high, they still take extreme care with their bunkers and I've never seen a drop of it spilt."
It has also been highlighted that the capacity of the bunker barges operating in Vancouver remains the same no matter where the bunkering takes place, so any such change to regulations would not alter the potential size of any bunkering related spill.
The Canadian Coast Guard released the M/V Marathassa on April 21.
