Newsletters
News
2021-2022 Annual Report is now available
The 2021-2022 Annual Report is now available at: https://sopf.gc.ca/?page_id=309#AnnualReport. This report highlights the work of the Fund over the course of the last fiscal year.
- If you have suggestions for next year’s report, please send them to info@sopf.gc.ca.
500th CLAIM SUBMITTED TO THE FUND
2022/08/09
August is Water Quality Month! We take water quality seriously, 365 days a year! Recently, we received our 500th claim for ship-source oil pollution damage. Claims can be submitted by those who suffer damages from any type of oil, from any type of ship or boat, anywhere in Canadian waters.
Since 1989, we have paid over $28.7 million to Canadian claimants. Recent years have been especially active. The number of claims submitted has never been higher, making the 2016-2022 years a record in the 33-year history of the Fund.
Number of claims received since 1989
We continue to collaborate with various partners and stakeholders to increase awareness of the Fund. While the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) remains our main claimant, many other claimants have submitted claims for the first time.
Our Claims Centre takes questions and provides free guidance at every step of the way. We can be reached at (613) 991-1726 or claims-demandes@sopf-cidphn.gc.ca.
Would you like to read more about these two incidents or any other ones? Have a look at our latest edition of the Incident Summaries compilation at: https://sopf.gc.ca/?page_id=11715.
Additional resources:
- Find out more about our Incident summaries since 1989 here: https://sopf.gc.ca/?page_id=11715
- Rewatch our step-by-step webinar on how to submit a claim here: https://youtu.be/9oavrwgC0zk
SHIP-SOURCE OIL POLLUTION FUND RECOVERS $375,000 FROM MARINE POLLUTER IN NOVA SCOTIA
January 20, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario
Today, the Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund announced the successful recovery of $375,000 from the shipowners of the Cormorant for polluting the water in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia in 2015.
In 2015, the Cormorant partially sank at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, discharging oil into the La Have River. A response operation managed by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) removed 5,850 litres of waste oil and 350 litres of hydraulic oil from the vessel. The CCG submitted a claim to the Fund for the associated costs.
In 2016, the Administrator and her legal team began taking extensive legal actions to recover from the shipowners for the cost of the CCG’s oil spill response operation. In 2019, a settlement that included a consent judgment was reached with the Port of Bridgewater and a numbered company. Those parties admitted ownership of the vessel and agreed to pay $375,000 to the Fund. The Administrator registered the judgment against the Port of Bridgewater’s property. Upon the recent sale of that property, the Administrator was able to recover the totality of the settled amount.
Canada’s regime is based on the polluter-pays principle. Shipowners are responsible for oil pollution damage caused by their ship or boat. Since 1989, the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund has compensated those who suffer oil pollution damages caused by any type of oil, from any type of ship or boat, anywhere in Canadian waters. Once a claimant receives payment from the Fund, the Administrator takes all reasonable measures to recover from the shipowner or other persons responsible.
Quote
“We are pleased that our recovery efforts were successful and that we were able to recover $375,000 from the shipowner. We are committed to taking all necessary steps to make sure polluters are held accountable for the damages they cause”.
Anne Legars, Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund
Quick facts
- Constructed in 1963, the 75-metre long Cormorant was a former Royal Canadian Navy diving support ship that was decommissioned and sold to private entities in 1997.
- In 2015, the Fund paid over $530,000 to the CCG for its response operation to an oil spill caused by the Cormorant.
- In 2020, the CCG announced the removal, deconstruction, and recycling of the Cormorant, which was completed in the summer of 2021.
Page Break
Associated link
Incident Summary: Cormorant (2015), p.37:
Contact
Jannie Bédard Guillemette
Communications Officer
E: jannie.guillemette@sopf-cidphn.gc.ca
Follow the Fund on Twitter: @sopf_cidphn
