English Bay oil spill trial to proceed with or without bulker owner’s participation

Canadian authorities will proceed with a prosecution of the Greek owners of the bulker Marathassa regarding the 2015 English Bay oil spill despite the company – Alassia NewShips Management – claiming it has not been properly informed of the proceedings, according to CBC.

The so-called ex parte trial is set for February 26 said the Provincial Court of British Columbia.

Marathassa and Alassia face 10 pollution-related charges and potential fines in the millions of dollars relating to the spillage of around 3,000 litres of bulker fuel into the bay in Vancouver.

It soiled beaches around Vancouver including Stanley Park – the city’s jewel – and across the Burrard Inlet in West Vancouver.

At the time of the incident the company was accused of failing to admit that the vessel was the source of the spill, causing delays of nearly two hours to the response efforts.

Alassia has argued it was not properly notified about the court proceedings, but Judge Kathryn Denhoff says in her written decision that the summons was successfully delivered on two occasions.