{"id":2,"date":"2025-05-26T17:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T17:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/oil-spill-response-new\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:35:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:35:35","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/oil-spill-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Oil Spill Response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n

Responding To
Oil Spills In
Canadian Waters<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

#clearfacts #oilspills #marinesafety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download Summary<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The number of marine oil spills and amount of oil spilled worldwide has decreased due to improved safety measures, even though the volume of oil carried by ships \u2013 whether as cargo or fuel \u2013 has increased significantly.[1] [2]<\/a><\/sup> The risk of a spill in Canadian waters is low,[3]<\/a><\/sup> but should it happen spill response plans are in place.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a spill occurs, who cleans it up and how? What are the resources available to minimize the environmental damage? How is the recovered oil safely disposed? Who pays for the cost of clean-up and damages as a result of an oil spill?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of this site is to answer these questions, provide the facts about response to oil spills from commercial ships \u2013 whether the oil is cargo or fuel \u2013 in Canadian waters and encourage informed conversations on the topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site was created by\u00a0Clear Seas<\/strong><\/a>, an independent not-for-profit research centre that supports safe and sustainable marine shipping in Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/span>
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Oil Spills in Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A growing number of oil spills in Canada are the result of wrecked or abandoned recreational vessels leaking small amounts of fuel or lubricating oil. The Government of Canada has taken steps including a new Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act<\/a> and a comprehensive national strategy<\/a> to reduce this source of oil spill risk. Most oil spills from commercial ships in Canadian waters are also small.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

1970: SS Arrow<\/a>
\nCanada\u2019s Largest Oil Spill<\/h3>\n

In 1970, the tanker SS Arrow ran aground in the Atlantic Ocean near Nova Scotia and spilled approximately 10 million litres of fuel oil \u2013 enough to fill four and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

1988: Nestucca<\/a>
\nLargest Oil Spill on Canada\u2019s Pacific Coast<\/h3>\n

In 1988, 874,430 litres of fuel oil \u2013 about one third the volume of an Olympic swimming pool \u2013 was released when a tug collided with the fuel barge Nestucca off the coast of Washington state. Oil from the Nestucca washed ashore, reaching parts of British Columbia\u2019s coast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

2016: Nathan E. Stewart<\/a>
\nMost Recent Spill of Note<\/h3>\n

In 2016, the Nathan E. Stewart tugboat ran aground near Bella Bella, BC, spilling 110,000 litres or approximately one railcar\u2019s worth of diesel fuel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

THREE PILLARS OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The National Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime, a public-private partnership, provides a framework to address ship-source oil spills in Canadian waters south of 60\u00b0 North. To protect our environment from the risk of spills, Canada has established three pillars of defence:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Prevention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Continuously improving measures to prevent oil spills from ships include requirements for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n