The MV Ancier’s owner has received a fine related to a fuel spill incident two years ago in Charlottetown Harbour, as reported by CBC News. This former passenger ferry, previously named CTMA Vacancier, operated for 17 years on the route between the Magdalen Islands and Montreal. On January 14, 2024, the vessel was at Charlottetown Harbour before departing for dismantling in India.
During refuelling, a portion of the fuel discharged into the harbor, prompting containment and cleanup actions. Local residents near the Hillsborough River noticed a strong odor and observed an oily sheen on the ice and water surface.
The vessel faced three violations under the Canada Shipping Act, resulting in a fine of $17,850 for the owner. Transport Canada’s records indicate breaches for discharging a regulated pollutant and failing to accurately record and report banned discharges.
In response to the spill, CBC News sought details from various government departments regarding the incident, the amount of spilled fuel, and recovery efforts. While some information was provided, the exact volume of fuel released remained unconfirmed.
Following a public information request, CBC News obtained 840 pages of documents, revealing that approximately 1.3 metric tonnes of fuel, equivalent to 1,530 liters, were potentially released into the harbor. Despite initial references to the fuel as dyed marine gas oil, subsequent reports identified it as diesel.
Sierra Club Canada highlighted the immediate environmental concerns arising from diesel spills in water bodies, emphasizing the toxic nature of diesel for aquatic life. The spill raised apprehensions within the P.E.I. Shellfish Association regarding potential impacts on local oyster and quahog fisheries.
Inspections conducted by provincial environmental officers along the Hillsborough River found no direct impacts from the spill. However, there were calls for transparency and thorough investigation to determine the spill’s magnitude, environmental damage, and necessary compensation.
Efforts to contact the vessel’s registered owner, a Singapore-based company, were unsuccessful, with the company claiming no knowledge of the MV Ancier. The vessel has likely been scrapped in India, concluding its journey post the fuel spill incident.