FV Olga Levied $113,000 Polluting Fine

The Fishing Vessel (FV) Olga was fined $113,000 in provincial court in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador for violations under the Canada Shipping Act associated with the unlawful discharge of an oily substance into Canadian waters.

On April 5, 2001, a Canadian Coast Guard aerial surveillance flight spotted an oil slick about two miles long by 10 m wide off the coast of Newfoundland, about 140 km northeast of St. John's. A subsequent investigation by Transport Canada revealed that the slick originated from the FV Olga when approximately 40,000 liters of ballast water contaminated by bilge water was pumped overboard. As a result, the vessel was charged and subsequently found guilty of three offences under the Canada Shipping Act: illegally discharging an oily substance in Canadian waters, failure to report the discharge, and failure to have a contract with an oil spill response organization.