The operator of the MV Ancier has been fined for an oil spill incident that occurred in Charlottetown Harbour two years ago, as reported by CBC News. The MV Ancier, previously known as CTMA Vacancier, served as a passenger-vehicle ferry for 17 years between the Magdalen Islands and Montreal. On January 14, 2024, the vessel was docked at Charlottetown Harbour before embarking on its final journey to be dismantled in India.
During refuelling, a portion of fuel leaked into the harbor, prompting immediate containment and cleanup operations. Local residents in the vicinity of the Hillsborough River reported detecting a strong petroleum odor and observing an oily film on the water and ice.
CBC News uncovered that the vessel faced three violations under the Canada Shipping Act, leading to a penalty of $17,850 imposed on its owner. Transport Canada records indicate that the MV Ancier was penalized for discharging a regulated pollutant and for inadequately documenting and reporting unauthorized discharges from the ship.
Following the spill, government inquiries were made regarding the spill’s extent and recovery efforts, with limited information disclosed. A subsequent access to information request by CBC News revealed that approximately 1.3 metric tonnes of fuel, potentially equivalent to 1,530 liters, were released into the harbor.
Sierra Club Canada highlighted the environmental hazards posed by diesel spills, emphasizing the toxicity of diesel to aquatic life and ecosystems. Despite concerns raised by the P.E.I. Shellfish Association regarding potential impacts on local fisheries, provincial environmental assessments conducted along the Hillsborough River on January 17, 2024, indicated no immediate effects from the spill.
Efforts to ascertain the precise volume of fuel leaked during the MV Ancier’s refuelling process were met with limited responses from relevant authorities and the vessel’s registered owner, a Singapore-based company. The fate of the MV Ancier ultimately led it to India, where it is likely to have been dismantled for scrap metal.