| Year |
EVENT |
Incident |
| 1970 |
In February, the Arrow strikes rock in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, spilling some 8,000 tonnes of oil. |
Tanker |
| 1970 |
In September, the oil barge Irving Whale sinks off the north coast of Prince Edward Island, while en route to Bathurst, New Brunswick, with a cargo of oil on board. |
Barge |
| 1971 |
The Canada Shipping Act is amended. Part XX establishes the Maritime Pollution Claims Fund (MPCF), as a fund of last resort to be used only when all other legal remedies against a ship-owner have been exhausted. The Canadian compensation regime is based on the fundamental principle that the ship-owner is primarily liable for oil pollution caused by the ship. |
|
| 1972 |
A levy of 15 cents on every ton of oil imported or exported from Canada comes into force, to finance the MPCF. |
|
| 1975 |
The 1969 Civil Liability Convention enters into force internationally. |
|
| 1976 |
The collection of the levy to finance the MPCF is suspended. |
|
| 1978 |
The 1971 Fund Convention enters into force internationally. |
|
| 1979 |
In March, the Kurdistan breaks in two in the southern entrance of Cabot Strait, spilling some 7,500 tonnes of oil. |
Tanker |
| 1982 |
Ocean Ranger disaster |
Oil Rig |
| 1988 |
In December, the tug Ocean Service strikes the tank barge Nestucca off the coast of Washington State, resulting in a spill of some 875 tonnes of oil in US waters, that washes ashore on Canada’s West coast. |
Barge |
| 1989 |
In March, the Exxon Valdez grounds on Bligh Reef in Alaska, resulting in a spill of some 44,000 tonnes of oil in US waters. |
Tanker |
| 1989 |
Canada decides to adopt the international scheme for liability and compensation for oil pollution damage from ships and accedes to the 1969 Civil Liability Convention and the 1971 International Fund Convention on April 24, 1989. |
|
| 1989 |
The Canada Shipping Act is amended. Part XVI transforms the MPCF into the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund (SOPF). The accumulated funds in the MPCF are transferred to the SOPF. The SOPF provides an additional level of compensation over that of the international conventions and also meets claims that are not covered by the conventions, such as mystery spills. |
|
| 1990 |
In October, the Rio Orinoco, loaded with 9,080 tonnes of liquid asphalt, grounds on the south shore of Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, spilling 200 tonnes of fuel oil. The Canadian Government’s claim for costs and expenses incurred is presented to, and paid by, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. |
Tanker |
| 1992 |
The Protocols to the 1969 Civil Liability Convention and the 1971 Fund Convention are adopted internationally. |
|
| 1993 |
Part XVI of the Canada Shipping Act is amended to establish a framework for a national system of preparedness and oil spill response founded upon the Canadian Coast Guard and private sector funded response organizations. The amendments expand the role of the SOPF by permitting the Canadian Government direct access as a claimant to the Fund. |
|
| 1998 |
The Canada Shipping Act is amended after Canada accedes to the 1992 Protocols to the 1969 Civil Liability Convention and the 1971 Fund Convention. |
|
| 2001 |
The liability and compensation provisions in Part XVI of the Canada Shipping Act are transferred to the Marine Liability Act, Part 6. |
|
| 2001 |
The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (the Bunkers Convention) is adopted internationally. |
|
| 2005 |
The Protocol of 2003 creating the Supplementary Fund enters into force internationally, increasing the total amount available for compensation for pollution damage in Member states. |
|
| 2010 |
Part 6 of the Marine Liability Act is amended to implement the Supplementary Fund Protocol and the Bunkers Convention. The amendments continue, in Part 7, the SOPF and modernize the governance of the Fund. |
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