VANCOUVER, April 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The MV Marathassa
has been granted permission by Transport Canada to return to its
operations and leave Canadian waters. Transport Canada officials have conducted a final
inspection of the vessel and determined that all safety
deficiencies have been rectified. They are confident that the
vessel is in compliance with Transport Canada regulations and is
environmentally safe for voyage.
Although the vessel has been cleared to leave Canadian waters,
Transport Canada is continuing its thorough investigation into the
MV Marathassa's fuel discharge. If there is sufficient
evidence that there is contravention of the Canada Shipping Act,
2001, the polluter may be prosecuted in court or administrative
monetary penalties – fines – may be imposed.
Pollution recovery operations related to the MV
Marathassa are slowly winding down, with assets such as the
wildlife rehabilitation team being demobilized as the need for
their services comes to a close. The Canadian Coast Guard is also
continuing its assessment of the spill and will determine its costs
associated with the incident and will assist its partners in
Unified Command through the claims process if necessary.
Canada's marine liability and
compensation regime ensures that the polluter pays for an oil spill
cleanup, including third party damages. This means that if a ship
causes a spill, its owner is liable for all eligible losses and
damages.
The operators of the MV Marathassa have undertaken to pay
for the clean-up and to appear in any future legal proceedings or
prosecutions that could lead to potential fines being levied
against them. In terms of covering the cost of the clean-up, the
Marine Liability Act requires vessels to have insurance to
cover pollution damage arising from a spill, and in the unlikely
event that eligible losses and damages are not covered by the
polluter, they may be covered from Canada's Ship Source Oil Pollution Fund. With
respect to any potential fines, Transport Canada has a variety of
tools available to collect such fines.
Transport Canada's National
Aerial Surveillance Program will conduct regular flyovers of the
MV Marathassa as it departs Canadian waters.
Transport Canada is online at
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SOURCE Transport Canada