The town of Come By Chance wants an explanation from Transport Canada as to why tug boats operating out of Placentia Bay for North Atlantic Refining Limited can operate with just two people onboard.
On April 28, federal Transportation Minister John Baird announced changes to tug boat regulations in Placentia Bay.
According to reports, tug boats in the bay were supposed to have four-person crews, but the North Atlantic Oil Refinery pressured Baird to allow crews of only two.
Baird relaxed the rules allowing each boat to operate with just a captain and an engineer.
In a news release, the town says that with Placentia Bay being a high-traffic area and prone to fog and high tides, the move is a major safety issue for the residents.
"These tugs are guiding tugs for tankers and also operate as fire and emergency vessels," the release states. "We find the timing of this, give the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, extremely disturbing."
Come By Chance wants explanation on tug boat crew reductions
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Published on
June 23, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Pierre Neary
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:24
This decision by Transport Canada will surely place workers at risk (unlawful by Provincial Regs). To quote the town, this is very disturbing. How Minister Baird could possibly think this was a good idea is unsettling to say the least. Smacks of incompetence to me. Transport Canada has been passing the buck when it comes to safety far too long. Maybe NARL is looking for self regulation, slippery slope for workers that one. I guess NARL wants the same thing as the operators offshore. Shame on Transport Canada.
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- Pierre Neary
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:25
This decision by Transport Canada will surely place workers at risk (unlawful by Provincial Regs). To quote the town, this is very disturbing. How Minister Baird could possibly think this was a good idea is unsettling to say the least. Smacks of incompetence to me. Transport Canada has been passing the buck when it comes to safety far too long. Maybe NARL is looking for self regulation, slippery slope for workers that one. I guess NARL wants the same thing as the operators offshore. Shame on Transport Canada.
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