A Transport Canada investigation into the recent Vancouver spill has found that the spill had been caused by mechanical problems on board MV Marathassa.
The 81,000 DWT cargo ship has been confirmed as the source of the toxic bunker oil spill in English Bay that released around 3,000 litres of oil into the water on April 8th.
According to Yvette Myers, Director of Marine Investigations for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) evidence has been found of some mechanical problems with the valves in the piping system causing the oil to leak into the duct keel.
“On its own, it would have been a mess in the hull of the ship. It would not have gone anywhere. But we have found another unrelated issue that was contributing. Because the oil has spilled into the duct keel, and because of this other issue, there was oil inadvertently discharged,” Canadian Global news cited Myers as saying.
Transport Canada’s ongoing investigation is also looking into the ship’s logs so as to establish the exact amount of spilled oil inter alia.
The City of Vancouver has already hired an outside lawyer to pursue damage claims incurred by the oil spill recovery.
The ship’s owner Alassia NewShips Management Inc. said that an investigation into the cause of the spill is underway, stressing its commitment to meet all its legal obligations arising from the spill.
World Maritime News Staff; Image: Canadian Coast Guard