Enbridge Addresses Tanker Safety
Prince George, B.C. – Enbridge Northern Gateway has reacted to a tense weekend involving a Russian freighter that lost power off of B.C.’s North Coast at a company summit in Prince George today.
“It’s a very serious situation and we’re grateful that it ended well and that the ship was able to get back to Prince Rupert,” says communication manager Ivan Giesbrecht.
“But I think it’s really important for British Columbians to understand that the safety measures that Northern Gateway will be putting in place will be designed to prevent a scenario like this from happening altogether.”
For starters, he says the ships associated with Northern Gateway will be operating under strict vessel safety operation limits.
“In severe weather they’re not going to be able to come to our terminal nor will they be able to leave the terminal.”
Giesbrecht says the difference being the Russian freighter was travelling between Washington State and Russia and “obviously not under the same requirements” as it wasn’t coming to a Canadian port.
Secondly he says the ships associated with Northern Gateway will have two “super tugs accompanying them.”
Giesbrecht says the tugs will be equipped “with crews and emergency equipment” that will allow for quick disaster response.
And finally he says the crews and equipment will be positioned along the channel which he says “will be better equipped to handle a situation and that can assist any vessel on the coast.”
Comments
Na..na-na..na-na..naaa!! While thumbing their collectives noses at the failed doomsday proclamations. Hollywood can’t write this stuff better!
That’s the problem, Hollywood sticking their ignorant noses where it does not belong.
If the tankers aren’t permitted to leave port in bad weather, they could easily be stuck in port for a month in the winter. Second, how far will these super-tugs accompany the tankers? The Russian freighter was in open water when it ran into trouble with the first report I read saying it was something like 26 klicks off the coast. Is that not in international waters and will the tugs go that far?
The big oil cheer-leaders can make all the noise they want but this was a scenario that, despite its happy ending, definitely illustrates the lack of preparedness.
Why don’t you ask Enbridge? They have an office here don’t ya know.
From the Fed gov’ts website:
Contiguous Zone: starts where the territorial sea ends and extends from baselines out to a maximum of 24 nautical miles. Canada can enforce laws relating to pollution, customs, immigration and taxation in this zone.
This is the most likely definition that would be used Krusty. There is another definition that allows for regulation out as far as 200 nautical miles but that reads like an east coast provision for the Nfld fishing banks.
The eco-fear-mongers would not want to admit to this point but with increased ocean traffic will come increased safety resources. This past weekend’s event would have been routinely handled by the resources available to service the proposed super tanker traffic. I am not arguing for or against; just pointing out a fact. Just like the police are saying; Staying with the crowds and well lit streets reduces your chances of a mugging.
Another observation: Ocean going vessels carrying bunker oil, etc. have been plying our coast for the better part of a century. I remember as a kid in the 60s the Norwegian vessels bringing in bunker fuel and taking out pulp and paper from Ocean Falls. Ocean Falls was originally developed in the early 1900s. Kitimat was developed in the 50s because of the quality of the ocean port and access to cheap power. Many more examples are available. There is a long history of international and coastal shipping along our coast conducted with fewer safety and tech resources than is available today.
How does the gas get to the gas stations on Haida Gwaii?
People have got to stop making mountains out of molehills, the media included. I can only imagine if we were building the Cross Canada Railroad today what kind of a fuss would be made by the do gooders.
Yes and with probably good reason too. Lac Megantic.
If the fear, and attitudes that prevail today were the norm 150 years ago, we would most likely still using horse and buggy, and steam powered railways for transportation. Go back 200 years and the railways would not have been built at all.
Of course without any advancements in transportation, and technology the worlds population might only be 2,000,000,000 so I guess it’s not all bad!
Talk is cheap. Is it really news that Enbridge will say that its tankers will be safe? Lets see Enbridge or Alberta put up a $15 billion bond which might just cover the costs of a massive cleanup on our coast, and then they can start fixing some of the 209 deficiencies the Harper government has found in their proposal.
Shipping bitumen is the same as shipping raw logs. If it’s not economically viable to refine the stuff in Canada (i.e. Canadian jobs AND way less environmental damage WHEN it spills)leave in the ground for the day it becomes so. Who says this generation has to cash in all of Canada’s natural resources?
Kudos Nytehawk … insightful post … Of course it is a booming world population that is driving this need for increased resource consumption (along with an economic model based on capital growth) … I continue to be amazed at how many people don’t get that cause and effect linkage
seamutt you looking at early retirement if the pipe line gos through? Seems to be a sore spot you and J.B.
No, maverick. My viewpoint just happens to differ from yours. It doesn’t mean ‘I’m on the take’, but I understand that’s how you might rationalize it if someone doesn’t follow the mob.
I wonder how many of the anti-Enbridge crowd actually own Enbridge stock through their RRSPs and pension plans? It’s not bad news if you do, Enbridge has done quite well over the past few years.
Hey Johnnybelt. Enbridge may have done good financially over the last few years but not environmentally! Their record just jumped to 100% leakage on every line last year! That is why everyone here is not going to permit this pipe dream. There are people in fort st james who are willing to kill any equipment operator who tries to run any machinery between vanderhoof and Fort St James. It is a dream on paper only. Will not happen. I will fight to the death.
Western3 are you sure you are not a paid Harper agent? There are so many valid reasons to oppose Northern Gateway, and so many legal ways to stop it. There is really no reason to make vague and crazy threats of violence which only serve to tarnish the majority of the BC population that oppose this idiotic and dangerous project.
So who is paying you to post, Herbster?
Maverick, already retired, keep paying your taxes to support me, but may hire out to gateway as an armed guard. Sarcasm, maybe. Do you get the feeling you are being watched? Do you notice more suvs around? Maybe your house is bugged? Is that conversation on your cell phone really private?
seamut, watching to much T.V? you should get off the couch and get some exercise once in awhile. You will find your retirement will be more enjoyable.
JohnnyBelt- follow the money- if you are supporting Northern Gateway there is lots of it to be had. If you oppose it, all you have is common sense and personal integrity to support you. You made your choice, I made mine.
Get a lawyer real soon western3. I think you’ll be getting a visit from the cops, as they might want to know who told you they would kill machine operators. And you will fight to the death? Methinks you better go back on your meds buddy.
Exercise, I doubt you could keep up.
Comments for this article are closed.