Ottawa upgrading spill response equipment for Canadian coasts

Canadian Coast Gaurd spill response

New equipment includes curtain booms, high-speed sweep systems, and small, portable multi-cassette skimmers

Through the Oceans Protections Plan, the Government of Canada is upgrading spill response equipment and capacity to prevent and respond to marine pollution incidents, according to a press release.

The government claims it will modernize and create a world-leading marine safety system that keeps Canada’s waters and coasts safe and clean.

“Under the Oceans Protection Plan, our government is putting in place concrete measures so we can better prevent and respond to marine pollution incidents. By providing our dedicated Coast Guard members across the country with the best equipment, we are ensuring they can continue to respond quickly and efficiently in the case of an environmental incident in Canada’s waters,” said Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

The Environmental Response Equipment Modernization initiative will bring new infrastructure, equipment and technologies to more than 80 Canadian Coast Guard locations across the country.

The Federal Government has come under scrutiny after approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline’s 525,000 b/d expansion to the West Coast. Environmental groups have filed lawsuits claiming the risk of a spill off the coast is not worth the benefits of the pipeline expansion.

The Government of Canada is soliciting bids for the new environmental response equipment to contain and remove oil and other contaminants from the water in the case of a spill.

The equipment will include curtain booms, high-speed sweep systems, and small, portable multi-cassette skimmers.

Containment booms, including curtain booms, concentrate and contain oil in the water following a spill. They are also used in cases where a spill is possible, such as to surround a vessel that has been damaged.

Skimmers and vacuums are used to remove oil from the water, including within a boomed area.

The Environmental Response Equipment Modernization initiative will bring the Coast Guard in line with and beyond current standards regarding environmental spill response and take advantage of innovations and advancements in technology.

“Our government is committed to supporting the Canadian Coast Guard in keeping our marine environment safe and clean. These projects will provide the Coast Guard with new and innovative tools and equipment, while bringing jobs and prosperity to a number of Canadian communities across the country,” said Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.