Grounding of Kulluk sounds alarm about vulnerability of B.C. coast

[Joe Shlabotnik]

"The accident comes just as a federal Joint Review Panel conducting a review of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway project in British Columbia begins a series of hearings in Victoria and Vancouver. If the Enbridge project goes ahead, more large tankers carrying oil, under tow by tugs in inside waters, would begin plying the north coast of B.C., which is similar to the area in the Gulf of Alaska where the Kulluk ran into trouble.

Ian McAllister, a director with Pacific Wild, said the inability of Alaska authorities to bring the situation quickly under control is a reminder of how vulnerable B.C. would be if a large oil tanker went adrift. “I can’t imagine it’s that different to have a drill rig of that size, or a very large crude carrier fully laden, in storm conditions,” he said. “It is similar in terms of trying to secure it and what the aftermath might be.”"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/grounding-of-kulluk-sounds-alarm-about-vulnerability-of-bc-coast/article6883922/