The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Oct. 20, edition that an American tugboat towed a distressed Russian cargo ship toward Prince Rupert Sunday.
The Globe's Wendy Stueck and Patrick White write that for those who worry about marine safety along British Columbia's coast, the rescue of the stranded Simushir highlighted gaps in Canada's ability to respond to marine disasters and brought renewed attention to Ottawa's response to B.C.'s "five conditions," released in 2012 as prerequisites for the province's approval of heavy oil pipelines. Those conditions include a "world-leading" marine spill response prevention and recovery system.
The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Gordon Reid arrived more than 20 hours after the Simushir lost power. The Coast Guard vessel's tow line broke three times, though the Reid did successfully tow the cargo ship away from Haida Gwaii. A U.S. tug on Sunday was towing the ship to Prince Rupert.
Last Tuesday, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced up to $20-million in funding to improve navigational aids in area near the proposed terminus of Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. A Tory government spokesman says future safety improvements are forthcoming.
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