MV Marathassa and Alassia NewShips Management Inc. face ten charges for polluting the English Bay in April 8th, 2015 after discharging around 2,700 liters of bunker fuel into the area. A trial has been scheduled to begin next week.
The first court appearance has been set for April 5 in Vancouver Provincial Court. The vessel and its owners are accussed for polluting the English Bay and the surrounding beaches near Vancouver’s coastline. Charges specifically refer to the following:
- Six counts under the Canada Shipping Act, including contravening regulations, failing to implement an oil pollution emergency plan, and discharge of a pollutant.
- Two counts under the Fisheries Act.
- One count under the Canadian Environment Portection Act.
- One count under the Migratory Bird Convention Act.
An investigation review by Canadian Coast Guard found that Marathassa’s owners slowed the reaction time to the emergency, because they refused to admit the vessel was the source of the fuel spill. Twenty five recommendations were made to improve future response efforts.
