ICS: Proposed BC oil shipment moratorium ‘draconian,’ ‘unwelcome’

Under Canada’s House of Commons Bill C-48, oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude oil or persistent oil as cargo would be barred from calling all northern British Columbia ports.    The London-based International Chamber of Shipping has come out strongly against a proposal by the Canadian government to suspend the shipment of crude oil to and from ports in northern British Columbia.
   Under House of Commons Bill C-48, oil tankers that are carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude oil or persistent oil as cargo would be barred from “stopping, or unloading crude oil or persistent oil, at ports or marine installations located along British Columbia’s north coast,” from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska border, including two of the three largest ports on the Canadian West Coast, the Prince Rupert and the Port of Kitimat. Violators would face fines of up to $5 million Canadian.
   The anti-oil shipping legislation, which was proposed in May, is part of a series of actions that the Canadian government is taking as part of a $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, a national strategy to create protect the country’s coastlines and ensure clean water.
   But in an Oct. 18 letter, the ICS, which represents the world’s national shipowners’ associations and 80 percent of the world merchant fleet, said the proposed legislation would interfere with international maritime trade.
   “Such a draconian step could lead to serious concerns being raised by Canada’s international trading partners,” ICS Director of Policy and External Relations Simon Bennett said.
   ICS asserted in its letter that the proposals “would establish an unwelcome precedent that might be emulated elsewhere, including by individual U.S. states,” and have the potential to greatly impact the efficiency of Canadian and world trade.
   ICS also defended the environmental record of the shipping industry, particularly the tanker sector, stating that despite a doubling of the amount of oil transported by sea, there are currently less than two significant oil spills (of over 700 tons) on average per year, compared to 25 such incidents annually 30 years ago.
   “We would instead encourage Canada to continue its strong history of environmental protection and support for responsible global trade through the implementation of practical measures consistent with international best practice,” Bennett said. “This includes respecting the UN International Maritime Organization’s role in developing safe and sustainable shipping regulations and recommendations that might address any concerns that Canada may have.”
   Bill C-48, which was tabled by the Canadian parliament in May, is currently being reviewed by a parliamentary committee.