The Inevitable Threat: When, Not If - The True Cost of Oil Tankers on BC's Coast
Our beautiful British Columbia coastline stands at a crossroads. With increasing marine traffic and proposed energy projects, the question isn't whether an oil spill will occur - but when. And when it happens, the consequences will be devastating and irreversible.
Call to Protect Our Coast
What's an Oil Tanker, and Why is it on the BC Coast?
Oil tankers aren't just ships - they're massive vessels in a global network transporting crude oil, refined products, and hazardous chemicals across our waters.
These floating giants, some as long as four football fields, carry millions of gallons of oil and pose an ever-present danger to our coastal ecosystems.
Projects like the proposed LNG terminals could double marine vessel traffic on the BC coast by 2040.
The Inevitable Threat: When, Not If
Political Vulnerability
While the Northern BC Tanker Ban currently protects our coast, it remains a political battleground. Some politicians have openly expressed desires to lift this crucial safeguard, with CBC reporting increasing pressure from industry interests.
Indigenous Opposition
First Nations communities stand ready to "rise" against any attempt to lift the ban. Their territories and traditional ways of life hang in the balance, dependent on healthy marine ecosystems.
History as Warning
The 2016 Nathan E. Stewart spill in Heiltsuk territory wasn't even an oil tanker - just a tugboat - yet its diesel spill devastated local shellfisheries. Similarly, the recent Zeballos diesel spill shows how even small incidents cause significant harm.
A study by Raincoast Conservation Foundation highlights the inherent hazards of tanker routes to Kitimat, where narrow channels, powerful currents, and extreme weather create conditions where accidents become inevitable over time. The science is clear: it's not a question of if, but when.
It's Not a Hypothetical: A History of Spills on Our Coast
1
An oil barge off Washington State spilled 875,000 litres of bunker fuel, contaminating hundreds of kilometers of Vancouver Island's coast and killing thousands of seabirds. This spurred Canada's modern spill response regime.
2
Two separate freighter incidents in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet released significant bunker fuel. These events highlighted the vulnerability of our busiest port, mobilizing volunteers to clean up beaches.
3
Thousands of litres of bunker fuel entered Vancouver's English Bay from the bulk carrier Marathassa. This incident demonstrated the difficulty of rapid and effective response, even in a major metropolitan area.
4
The grounding of a tugboat in Heiltsuk Nation territory released thousands of litres of diesel. This spill, though small in volume, devastated local shellfisheries and caused long-term ecological damage.
The Price of Inevitability: Our Coast is Forever Changed
When oil spills, it doesn't simply wash away. Heavy oils can sink to the seabed where they remain virtually impossible to clean up. This creates a permanent poisoning of marine habitats, with effects lasting generations.
The human toll is equally devastating. NOAA research shows that spills cause immediate and long-term health risks to coastal communities.
Commercial fisheries collapse, tourism dollars vanish, and traditional food sources that First Nations communities have relied on for thousands of years become unsafe to harvest.
The 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster serves as a sobering reminder. Despite billions spent on cleanup, oil remains in Prince William Sound decades later. Some wildlife populations have never recovered. Once our coast is contaminated, there is no going back to what was.
The Shocking Scale of a Spill
Even a small amount of oil can devastate vast areas. It's not about the quantity spilled, but the devastating reach of its impact.
A small quantity of oil...
...can cover a vast area of our delicate coastline.
Oil spreads fast across the water's surface, forming a thin, wide film that coats everything in its path. Even a seemingly insignificant volume can impact entire ecosystems.
The Future Isn't Written Yet

The Threat is Real and Growing
Every day without action brings us closer to a catastrophic spill that will permanently change British Columbia's coastal ecosystems and communities.
Organizations like West Coast Environmental Law Foundation are working tirelessly to strengthen protections and monitoring systems. Citizen-led initiatives are helping fill gaps in official spill response capabilities.
You have the power to change this trajectory.
Press the button below to call your local representative.