Marine Transportation Experts Support New Measures To Strengthen Canada's World-Class Tanker Safety System

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"We are encouraged by this announcement today, as the federal government's plan for a World Class Tanker Safety system will benefit from robust research from a variety of disciplines. The Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response network (MEOPAR) was established by the federal government in 2012 as a Network of Centres of Excellence to conduct research that will deliver an informed and safer relationship with the ocean. MEOPAR is eager to work in partnership with Transport Canada and other federal departments and agencies to help coordinate and support government-academia-industry partnerships to deliver on this important mandate."
– Dr. Douglas Wallace, Scientific Director, Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Science and Technology

"The Government of Canada has made it clear that science and technology will be critical pillars to ensure that Canada has the most innovative and smartest capability to keep its oceans safe. By drawing on the world-leading expertise and ocean observing technology of Ocean Networks Canada, the World Class Tanker Safety Program will be a global first in environmental monitoring, and spill prevention and response. "
– Dr. Kate Moran, President of Ocean Networks Canada

"WCMRC shares Transport Canada’s vision of a world-class spill response regime. We support the movement towards a regime where capacity fits the assessed risks of each geographic region. We look forward to working with government and industry to continue to enhance the existing regime".
– Kevin Gardner, President and General Manager, Western Canada Marine Response Corporation

"I am pleased to see these new measures reflect recommendations made by the Tanker Safety Expert Panel. The Government of Canada has taken our work seriously, and has done a very good job in further strengthening an already strong tanker safety system in each of the three areas of spill prevention, preparedness and response, and liability and compensation. "
– Captain Gordon Houston, Chair, Tanker Safety Expert Panel

"Canada has provided internationally recognized leadership over the last decades in pollution prevention and response, and all of the work leading to this announcement has created a truly world-class regime that should be a source of pride for all contributors.
This world-class regime is of particular importance in our area given the significant quantities of petroleum products moved in and out of Port Saint John. Our future will see even greater quantities of petroleum products moved through our waters and this strengthened system will provide critical direction for the many organizations who currently work together in ensuring a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operation."
– Jim Quinn, President & CEO, Port Saint John

"Establishing the highest possible standards for tanker safety is essential to the continued development of our marine ports. Port Metro Vancouver already enjoys over 50 years of incident-free tanker transit and we welcome the commitment of government to ongoing protection of our environment. "
– Robin Silvester, President & CEO, Port Metro Vancouver

"The Administrator notes that Canada already provides one of the best, if not the best, regime of liability and compensation for oil tanker spills, based on the interaction of its domestic fund with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds. The new package is likely to further enhance that regime, since it contemplates the removal of the per incident limit for the domestic fund".
– Alfred Popp, Administrator of the Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund

"We commend the work done so far by the Tanker Safety Expert Panel for the report on Canada's Ship-source Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime. Although it recognizes that mechanisms currently in place have been effective and that no major spill has occurred during the period within scope, we support the Panel’s recommendations that Regional Risk Assessment and Intervention capabilities reviews should be conducted regularly and be made public; and that the Canadian tax payer should not bear any liability for intervention on oil spills in Canadian waters. We are looking forward to Phase 2 of the review which focuses on ship-source spill preparedness and response requirements specific to the Arctic, as well as requirements for a hazardous and noxious substances system".
– Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority

"The Pacific Pilotage Authority supports the Governments initiatives in ensuring a World-Class Tanker Safety System. With tanker safety on the West Coast already a high priority for pilots and the marine industry, these initiatives will further enhance the present high safety standards.
The Pacific Pilotage Authority has been working in partnership with the marine industry, the pilots and the Federal Government for many years in order to ensure the safe movement of bulk liquid along the west coast of Canada. The initiatives on the World-Class tanker safety system will further enhance the safety of liquid bulk cargo moving on the West Coast of Canada. "
– Kevin Obermeyer, CEO, Pacific Pilotage Authority Canada

"The Atlantic Emergency Response Team (ALERT) has a strong history of working closely with the Coast Guard, Transport Canada and industry partners to develop a best-in-class emergency response delivery model. Many of the recommendations announced already exist at the Port of Saint John, which is widely considered to be world-class and with a tanker safety record that is second to none. As an organization committed to protecting the waters off the east coast of Canada, we continue to support all efforts to enhance transportation standards to ensure the safe movement of products over water. "
– Captain Donovan W. Case, General Manager, Atlantic Emergency Response Team Inc.

"Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC) is looking forward to working with Transport Canada in building on our current regime to enhance Canada’s preparedness and response capability. We are encouraged by these initial steps in achieving Canada’s goal of having a world class oil spill response regime."
– James B. Carson, President and General Manager, ECRC

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2016-12-14

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Marine Transportation Experts Support New Measures To Strengthen Canada's World-Class Tanker Safety System

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