» Awaiting a court decision in the Robson Bight oil spill case

November 11th, 2009

Awaiting a court decision in the Robson Bight oil spill case

Sarah King

orca-trial While much of the Robson Bight case has been solved below the water, the court decision regarding the events that took place on the water back in August 2007 when the barge spilled its content and oil into the ecological reserve has not yet been given by the judge.

The 46 year old barge, owned by Ted Leroy Trucking, set out from Beaver Cove full of logging equipment and a diesel fuel truck, that tipped its load in Robson Bight before reaching its destination at a Ted Leroy logging operation in Bute Inlet. Following the accident the barge was deemed not to be seaworthy; however, it seems as though it was its unseaworthiness that caused it to tip in the first place and should not have been in operation.

The federal Crown affirms that not just Ted Leroy but also the tugboat captain and Gowlland Towing should have been responsible for ensuring the barge’s seaworthiness, and that a more thorough inspection should have been conducted. All parties have been charged for the oil that was spilled into the reserve but all have pleaded not guilty and the defence has argued that only Ted Leroy is responsible.

The jury is still out on who will ultimately be held responsible, and it is still unknown what exactly the impact has been to the orcas that were seen in the area of hte spill swimming through the oil slick. One thing remains clear regardless of the verdict–without full protection of the orcas’ critical habitat, especially in areas designated as ecological reserves, our threatened northern resident orcas and endangered southern residents will continue to be under threat from further such incidents, or worse yet, a catastrophic spill.