Tankers

The recent approval of pipeline projects in Canada is expected to increase the amount of oil tankers transiting Canadian waters.

This development, along with the steady rise of tanker movements around the world, has raised questions about the opportunities and risks for coastal and Indigenous communities, the environment and the economy. More specifically questions have arisen in the measures available to deal with oil spills, and any preventative measures to make this vessels safer.

Check out these resources to get in ship shape with tanker facts.

Graphics

Expected share of total traffic due to tankers in Vancouver Metro_

Number of Tankers increased from Trans Mountain

oil-transported-as-cargo-canadian-waters

Videos

Play Video

Counter-Points

Point: Carrying crude by tanker leaves oceans vulnerable to spills.

Counter-Point Canadians share an interest in protecting the ocean environment. To that end the Ocean Protection Plan and other industry led initiatives have set up frameworks to deal with any potential spills, and to enforce emergency preparedness plans when needed. Canadian Energy Industry is constantly innovating their spill response systems and technologies to ensure Canada remains one step ahead of any eventuality or spill.

Point: The West Coast is incredibly vulnerable to oil spill risk

Counter-Point Even though the West Coast is a vulnerable ecosystem the risk and frequency of large oil spills over 10 000 barrels is around 0.04%

Point: Bill C-48 will protect the North West from Tankers

Counter-point There currently isn’t tanker traffic where the tanker ban would be placed, but there are tugboats that haul supplies to communities along the northern coast.

Point: The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion will increase tanker traffic and hurt killer whale populations

Counter-Point: The National Energy Board concurred that there was a risk to killer whale populations, however Project-related marine vessels would be a small fraction added on to already cumulative effects.

Studies

Risk Assessment for Marine Spills in Canadian Waters Phase 1: Oil Spills South of 60th Parallel

Title: Risk Assessment for Marine Spills in Canadian Waters Phase 1: Oil Spills South of 60th Parallel Author: SL Ross Publisher: SL Ross Date: January 2014 Full Report Here Summary: This report describes the data that have been collected and explains the methodology that has been applied to calculate risk estimates. This report also

Citizen’s Guide to Tanker Safety & Spill Response

Title: Citizen’s Guide to Tanker Safety & Spill Response Author: Stewart Muir, Don Hauka, Kim Lonsdale, Scott Simpson and Joe Spears Publisher: Resource Works Date: May 2018 Full Text Article Summary: The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMEP) was announced in May 2012 and approved four and one half years later in December 2016.

Fact Sheets